If you are used to Starbucks, start with No. 6 Hegemony. It is a Medium roast from Parana and Sao Paulo, Brazil, pulped natural and sun dried, with cocoa and smooth on the label. It suits anyone who wants a chocolatey pot with low acidity and heavy body (the roaster's words), and it ships free in the US as a 12 oz bag, whole bean or ground, for $28.
We will not tell you it tastes like any other brand, because we can only speak to what is on our own labels. What we can do is describe the cup: cocoa, smooth, and not fruity.
Our pick
No. 6 Hegemony
Parana and Sao Paulo, Brazil · 750 to 1,050 m · Pulped natural, sun dried · Catuai, Mundo Novo · Medium
Cocoa and smooth on the label, with low acidity and heavy body in the roaster's own notes.
Why Hegemony for a first bag?
The label notes are the shortest of our ten: cocoa and smooth. There is no fruit and no floral note to adjust to. The roaster describes it as the pot everyone in the house drinks without complaining, with low acidity and heavy body, which makes it hard to ruin. If you are used to bold, chocolatey cups, that is the closest match on paper among the ten.
How does it compare with our other options?
These are the two bags a buyer in your position might also weigh. All facts are from the label.
| No. 6 Hegemony | No. 3 Position | No. 1 Common Sense | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Parana and Sao Paulo, Brazil | Aceh, Takengon, Indonesia | Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia |
| Process | Pulped natural, sun dried | Wet-hulled (giling basah) | Fully washed, solar dried |
| Roast | Medium | Not declared by the roaster | Medium |
| Notes | Cocoa, smooth | Dark chocolate, dried fruit, earthy | Cocoa, red apple, brown sugar |
| Best for | The pot everyone drinks | Espresso, moka, milk | Every morning, takes milk |
No. 3 Position has dark chocolate on the label, but it also lists dried fruit and earthy, so it is not low-fruit. It is the one to look at if you drink espresso or milk drinks. The Aceh bag is described in Sumatra coffee beans.
Our pick
No. 3 Position
Aceh, Takengon, Indonesia · 1,100 to 1,600 m · Wet-hulled (giling basah) · Tim Tim, Typica, Ateng, Onan Ganjang, Jember
Dark chocolate, dried fruit and earthy on the label. The roaster points it at espresso, moka and milk drinks.
No. 1 Common Sense adds red apple to the cocoa, which is a step away from plain chocolate. If you like chocolate in the cup, coffee beans that taste like chocolate lists our four picks.
How should you brew Hegemony?
The roaster says drip, or cold brew at 1:8 overnight. For a drip machine, use about 3 level tablespoons per 8 fl oz of water (60 g per litre is the roaster's number), with water just off the boil. The how much coffee per cup page has the amounts for every pot size. The Brazil bag is also covered in Brazilian coffee beans.
If you do not own a grinder, order it ground. That is the easy way to switch without buying any gear. If you do grind, a medium grind is the usual starting point for drip.
Who should skip Hegemony?
Skip it if your daily cup is espresso or a milk drink, since the roaster points No. 3 Position at those. Skip it too if you want fruit in the cup, because Hegemony is cocoa and smooth with nothing fruity on the label. In that case the post on fruity coffee beans shows which of our ten lean that way.
What does a first week look like?
- Brew the first pot plain, at 3 level tablespoons per 8 fl oz, and taste it black.
- If it is lighter than you are used to, move to 3.5 tablespoons next time. Change one thing at a time.
- On a warm day, try the roaster's cold brew: 1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight, steeped overnight, so 100 g of coffee for 800 g of water. The cold brew ratio page has the sizes.
- Keep the spoon count you liked.
Whole bean or ground?
Either works. Whole bean needs a grinder, and ground is ready for the filter. We sell both at the same price, so pick whichever your kitchen is set up for.
Can you subscribe to it?
Yes. The subscription is 11% off, with skip or cancel in one click. It is useful if this becomes your daily pot, since a 12 oz bag makes roughly 34 cups at one scoop each. Not sure what a bag gets you? How many cups of coffee in a 12 oz bag has the count.
All ten are $28 for 12 oz with free US shipping, and you can see all ten coffees on one page.
Start with Hegemony, brew it plain, and see whether cocoa and smooth is what you were after.
Questions people ask
What coffee beans are similar to Starbucks?
We cannot match any other brand, but if you want a chocolatey, low-fruit cup, our label notes point to No. 6 Hegemony: cocoa and smooth, Medium roast, from Brazil.
Is Hegemony a dark roast?
No. The roaster declares Hegemony as Medium. Its cocoa notes and heavy body can still feel familiar if you like chocolatey cups.
Do you sell ground coffee?
Yes. Every bag is 12 oz, whole bean or ground, for $28 with free shipping in the US.
Free printable
Keep the ratio chart on your fridge
One page with grams, level tablespoons and scoops for every cup size and for coffee makers from 2 to 14 cups. Leave your email and the download link appears right here.