{
  "title": "4 espresso beans compared: cost per shot, roast and bag size",
  "url": "https://www.wetrieditall.com/post/best-whole-bean-espresso-coffee/",
  "checkedDate": "2026-11-10",
  "currency": "USD",
  "doseGrams": 18,
  "priceBasis": "One-time US price before shipping and tax",
  "products": [
    {
      "name": "Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast",
      "size": "12 oz",
      "approxGrams": 340,
      "bagUSD": 19.99,
      "costPerDoseUSD": 1.06,
      "bestFor": "Coffee Bros. is the fruity choice for someone who enjoys sweetness in straight espresso. The small bag also makes sense if you like switching coffees.",
      "tradeOff": "Highest bean cost per dose of these four.",
      "source": "https://coffeebros.com/products/espresso-roast-coffee-blend",
      "position": 1,
      "standout": "Strawberry, sugar cane and vanilla in a medium-roast Arabica blend."
    },
    {
      "name": "Stumptown Hair Bender",
      "size": "12 oz",
      "approxGrams": 340,
      "bagUSD": 19,
      "costPerDoseUSD": 1.01,
      "bestFor": "Hair Bender suits a household that pulls espresso on weekdays and brews a pot on weekends. Both uses are explicitly recommended for this blend.",
      "tradeOff": "Only about five cents less per dose than Coffee Bros.; flavor preference matters more than that saving.",
      "source": "https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/hair-bender",
      "position": 2,
      "standout": "Citrus, dark chocolate and raisin. Stumptown uses it for café espresso."
    },
    {
      "name": "Counter Culture Big Trouble",
      "size": "12 oz",
      "approxGrams": 340,
      "bagUSD": 19.5,
      "costPerDoseUSD": 1.03,
      "bestFor": "Big Trouble gives caramel and nut lovers a medium-dark option without buying a kilo. It has the same modeled yield as the other 12 oz bags.",
      "tradeOff": "Costs almost twice as much per dose as the larger Borbone bag.",
      "source": "https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/big-trouble",
      "position": 3,
      "standout": "Caramel and nuts in a round, medium-dark roast."
    },
    {
      "name": "Caffè Borbone Miscela Blu",
      "size": "2.2 lb",
      "approxGrams": 998,
      "bagUSD": 28.99,
      "costPerDoseUSD": 0.52,
      "bestFor": "Miscela Blu serves a household going through several doubles a day. If your machine is super-automatic, Borbone suggests checking its guidance for dark roasts.",
      "tradeOff": "At one double every weekday the bag lasts eleven weeks. Borbone advises checking dark-roast compatibility for super-automatic machines.",
      "source": "https://caffeborboneamerica.com/blue-blend-whole-bean-coffee/",
      "position": 4,
      "standout": "Dark-roasted Arabica and Robusta with chocolate and toasted-nut notes."
    }
  ],
  "faqs": [
    {
      "question": "Which espresso beans should I buy for the way I drink coffee at home?",
      "answer": "We Tried It All recommends Coffee Bros. for fruit-led espresso, Hair Bender for a household alternating between espresso and drip, or Big Trouble for a caramel-and-nut profile. Caffè Borbone Miscela Blu costs about $0.52 per 18 g double before shipping, but its almost-kilo bag takes eleven weeks to finish at five doubles a week."
    },
    {
      "question": "How long does each bag last at two double shots per day?",
      "answer": "At 18 g per double, each 12 oz bag supplies 18 full doubles, or nine days at two per day. The 2.2 lb Miscela Blu bag supplies 55 full doubles, or about 27½ days. Dialing in the grinder reduces both yields."
    },
    {
      "question": "Which smaller bag costs the least per double?",
      "answer": "At the checked one-time US prices, Stumptown Hair Bender costs about $1.01 per 18 g dose, Counter Culture Big Trouble $1.03, and Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast $1.06. Shipping can change that order."
    },
    {
      "question": "How should I compare bags when one has free shipping?",
      "answer": "Use the delivered one-time price for your actual order. Divide by net grams and multiply by the dose you use. A free-shipping minimum only helps if the extra bags fit your normal consumption."
    },
    {
      "question": "Does my 16 g basket change the ranking?",
      "answer": "Using 16 g instead of 18 g lowers each per-dose cost proportionally if price and usable yield stay the same. It also changes how long the bag lasts: 340 g gives 21 full 16 g doses before dial-in losses."
    },
    {
      "question": "What do tasting notes like strawberry or vanilla mean?",
      "answer": "For Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast these are sensory descriptions from the roaster. They describe the intended flavor impression. Check the ingredient label separately if added flavorings are a concern."
    },
    {
      "question": "What if several shots are used to dial in a new bag?",
      "answer": "Subtract the beans used for setup before estimating drinks served. Spending 36 g on two trial shots leaves 304 g from a 340 g bag, enough for 16 full 18 g doubles rather than 18."
    },
    {
      "question": "Which blend should I choose if I switch between espresso and drip?",
      "answer": "Stumptown Hair Bender is the guide’s dual-use pick for a household keeping one blend. If the second brewing method is rarely used, prioritize the espresso flavor and the bag size you can finish instead."
    }
  ],
  "householdExample": {
    "assumptions": {
      "gramsPerDouble": 18,
      "dialInWasteGramsPerBag": 36,
      "shippingUSDPerBag": 0,
      "taxExcluded": true
    },
    "formula": "Usable doubles = floor((bag grams - dial-in waste) / dose grams). Cost per usable double = (bag price + shipping) / usable doubles.",
    "results": [
      {
        "blend": "Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast",
        "usableDoubles": 16,
        "weekdayWeeks": 3.2,
        "twoPerDayDays": 8.0,
        "usdPerUsableDouble": 1.25
      },
      {
        "blend": "Stumptown Hair Bender",
        "usableDoubles": 16,
        "weekdayWeeks": 3.2,
        "twoPerDayDays": 8.0,
        "usdPerUsableDouble": 1.19
      },
      {
        "blend": "Counter Culture Big Trouble",
        "usableDoubles": 16,
        "weekdayWeeks": 3.2,
        "twoPerDayDays": 8.0,
        "usdPerUsableDouble": 1.22
      },
      {
        "blend": "Caffè Borbone Miscela Blu",
        "usableDoubles": 53,
        "weekdayWeeks": 10.6,
        "twoPerDayDays": 26.5,
        "usdPerUsableDouble": 0.55
      }
    ]
  },
  "description": "Compare four whole-bean espresso blends by cost per 18 g double, shipping, roast and how many drinks a 12 oz or 2.2 lb bag can serve.",
  "decisionDetail": {
    "heading": "The biggest price difference also changes how long you keep the beans",
    "url": "https://www.wetrieditall.com/post/best-whole-bean-espresso-coffee/#buyer-decision",
    "paragraphs": [
      "At five doubles a week, a 12 oz bag lasts about three and a half weeks. The Borbone bag yields eleven weeks at that pace. For a household making four doubles every day, the same kilo lasts under two weeks. Compare the roast you want and your rate of use before letting the lowest cost per shot choose your bag."
    ],
    "references": [
      {
        "name": "coffeebros.com",
        "url": "https://coffeebros.com/products/espresso-roast-coffee-blend"
      },
      {
        "name": "stumptowncoffee.com",
        "url": "https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/hair-bender"
      },
      {
        "name": "counterculturecoffee.com",
        "url": "https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/big-trouble"
      },
      {
        "name": "caffeborboneamerica.com",
        "url": "https://caffeborboneamerica.com/blue-blend-whole-bean-coffee/"
      }
    ]
  },
  "introduction": "A small bag suits someone who pulls a few shots a week. A household making several doubles a day can put a kilo bag to better use. Here’s what four blends cost at the same 18 g dose.",
  "quickVerdict": "Coffee Bros. suits a sweeter, fruit-led espresso, while Hair Bender offers citrus and dark chocolate in a blend Stumptown also recommends for drip. Choose Big Trouble for caramel and nutty notes in a smaller bag. Borbone Miscela Blu makes sense if you enjoy a full-bodied dark roast and make enough espresso to work through a kilo.",
  "atAGlance": [
    {
      "name": "Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast",
      "standout": "Strawberry, sugar cane and vanilla in a medium-roast Arabica blend.",
      "bestFor": "Coffee Bros. is the fruity choice for someone who enjoys sweetness in straight espresso. The small bag also makes sense if you like switching coffees."
    },
    {
      "name": "Stumptown Hair Bender",
      "standout": "Citrus, dark chocolate and raisin. Stumptown uses it for café espresso.",
      "bestFor": "Hair Bender suits a household that pulls espresso on weekdays and brews a pot on weekends. Both uses are explicitly recommended for this blend."
    },
    {
      "name": "Counter Culture Big Trouble",
      "standout": "Caramel and nuts in a round, medium-dark roast.",
      "bestFor": "Big Trouble gives caramel and nut lovers a medium-dark option without buying a kilo. It has the same modeled yield as the other 12 oz bags."
    },
    {
      "name": "Caffè Borbone Miscela Blu",
      "standout": "Dark-roasted Arabica and Robusta with chocolate and toasted-nut notes.",
      "bestFor": "Miscela Blu serves a household going through several doubles a day. If your machine is super-automatic, Borbone suggests checking its guidance for dark roasts."
    }
  ],
  "decisionMatrix": {
    "options": [
      "Coffee Bros. Espresso Roast",
      "Stumptown Hair Bender",
      "Counter Culture Big Trouble",
      "Caffè Borbone Miscela Blu"
    ],
    "rows": [
      {
        "label": "What does the roaster say it tastes like?",
        "cells": [
          "Strawberry, sugar cane and vanilla in a medium-roast Arabica blend.",
          "Citrus, dark chocolate and raisin. Stumptown uses it for café espresso.",
          "Caramel and nuts in a round, medium-dark roast.",
          "Dark-roasted Arabica and Robusta with chocolate and toasted-nut notes."
        ],
        "sources": [
          "https://coffeebros.com/products/espresso-roast-coffee-blend",
          "https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/hair-bender",
          "https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/big-trouble",
          "https://caffeborboneamerica.com/blue-blend-whole-bean-coffee/"
        ]
      },
      {
        "label": "What does one 18 g double cost?",
        "cells": [
          "$1.06 from a $19.99 12 oz bag.",
          "$1.01 from a $19.00 12 oz bag.",
          "$1.03 from a $19.50 12 oz bag.",
          "$0.52 from a $28.99 2.2 lb bag. Excludes shipping, tax and dial-in waste throughout."
        ],
        "sources": [
          "https://coffeebros.com/products/espresso-roast-coffee-blend",
          "https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/hair-bender",
          "https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/big-trouble",
          "https://caffeborboneamerica.com/blue-blend-whole-bean-coffee/"
        ]
      },
      {
        "label": "How quickly will two doubles a day finish this bag?",
        "cells": [
          "18 full doses, enough for 9 complete days.",
          "18 full doses, enough for 9 complete days.",
          "18 full doses, enough for 9 complete days.",
          "55 full doses, enough for 27 complete days plus one double."
        ],
        "sources": [
          "https://coffeebros.com/products/espresso-roast-coffee-blend",
          "https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/hair-bender",
          "https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/big-trouble",
          "https://caffeborboneamerica.com/blue-blend-whole-bean-coffee/"
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "buyerQuestion": "Which espresso beans should I buy for the way I drink coffee at home?",
  "recommendation": "We Tried It All recommends Coffee Bros. for fruit-led espresso, Hair Bender for a household alternating between espresso and drip, or Big Trouble for a caramel-and-nut profile. Caffè Borbone Miscela Blu costs about $0.52 per 18 g double before shipping, but its almost-kilo bag takes eleven weeks to finish at five doubles a week."
}