Whole bean wins for most mornings, because you choose the grind each time and a grinder takes about a minute. Ground coffee wins when you have no grinder, when you brew one fixed way every day, or when the morning is too tight for another step. Either way, the coffee is the same $28 for 12 oz, so the choice is about your routine and not your budget.
When does whole bean win?
Whole bean gives you control. A pour-over wants a medium grind, a French press wants it coarser, and a moka pot sits in between. With a bag of whole bean you change the grind to match the brewer, or to fix a cup that came out sour or bitter. If a cup tastes thin, grind a little finer. If it tastes harsh, grind a little coarser. You cannot do that with a bag that was ground for someone else's brewer.
Ground coffee has more surface exposed to air, so it loses its aroma sooner than whole bean does. That is why we suggest keeping any bag sealed and finishing it in a few weeks. If you are weighing the cost of a grinder, our post on switching from pre-ground supermarket coffee to whole bean covers what to buy first.
When is ground coffee the better choice?
Ground is the right call in three cases. You do not own a grinder and do not want one yet. You brew the same way every day, so one grind setting covers you. Or you make coffee for a crowd and want the scoop to go straight into the basket. When you order ground from us, you pick the grind in the order, so tell us the brewer you use.
If you are still deciding, start with whole bean for the coffee you care about most and ground for the one that goes in the office pot. Nothing stops you from mixing, and a subscription lets you do either. We compare the two formats for repeat orders in whole bean subscription vs ground subscription.
Which of our coffees suits each side?
All three coffees below are sold whole bean or ground. The table shows what the label says and which format we would reach for first.
| Coffee | Roast on label | Label notes | Format we would pick | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Common Sense | Medium | Cocoa, red apple, brown sugar | Ground is fine | Made for the daily drip or French press cup, 60 g per litre |
| No. 2 Good Sense | Medium-light | Milk chocolate, fruit, caramel | Whole bean | A pour-over, where grind changes the cup the most |
| No. 3 Position | Not declared | Dark chocolate, dried fruit, earthy | Whole bean for espresso, ground for a moka pot | Espresso needs a fine, adjustable grind |
The pattern is simple. The more precise your brewer, the more whole bean helps. An espresso machine and a pour-over reward a grinder. A drip maker and a French press forgive a lot.
Our pick
No. 1 Common Sense
Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia · 1,300 to 1,500 m · Fully washed, solar dried · Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica · Medium roast
The daily cup, and the easiest of our coffees to order ground. Label notes are cocoa, red apple and brown sugar.
Our pick
No. 2 Good Sense
Sidama, Ethiopia · 1,700 to 1,900 m · Natural, hand sorted, dried on raised beds · Indigenous heirloom cultivars · Medium-light roast
Order it whole bean for a slow pour-over. Label notes are milk chocolate, fruit and caramel.
How do I grind at home?
A burr grinder gives a more even result than a blade grinder, but any fresh grind beats a bag that has sat open. Grind right before you brew and weigh the coffee if you can.
| Brewer | Grind | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| French press | Coarse | About 60 g per litre |
| Drip machine | Medium | About 60 g per litre |
| Pour-over | Medium to medium-fine | About 60 g per litre |
| Moka pot | Fine, a little coarser than espresso | Fill the basket level, do not tamp |
| Espresso | Fine | 1:2 in about 28 seconds |
These are starting points. Taste the cup and move one step at a time. For a drip machine specifically, see coffee to water ratio for drip machines, explained in scoops.
You can browse all ten coffees on our coffee page, or read how repeat orders work on the subscription page. Whole bean or ground, the next bag is a few clicks away.
Questions people ask
Is whole bean coffee better than ground?
For control, yes. You pick the grind for each brewer and fix a sour or bitter cup by changing it. Ground is a fair choice if you have no grinder or brew one way every day.
Does ground coffee go stale faster?
Ground coffee has more surface exposed to air, so its aroma fades sooner than whole bean. Keep the bag sealed and use it within a few weeks.
Can I order ground coffee from Brega Coffee?
Yes. Every coffee is $28 for 12 oz, whole bean or ground, with free shipping in the US. Tell us your brewer in the order and we grind for it.
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.