MyTastr

Best coffee beans, according to chefs

Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from David Chang, Daniel Cutler, Debbie Lee, Jon Yao and 7 more. Recommendations come from foodandwine.com, tastingtable.com, youtube.com and sprudge.com.

Drinks · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Be Bright Coffee (Los Angeles)

    Chosen by
    Roasted by 2024 U.S. Barista Champion Frank La. Menashe blind-tasted several roasters and Be Bright “was the clear favorite for espresso and brewed coffee”; it’s now poured at all his restaurants and at Kato, Majordōmo, Otus and Yi Cha.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: foodandwine.com ↗
  2. 2

    SEY Coffee (Brooklyn)

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    McGarry serves SEY at Gem Home: “I tend to go for lighter and brighter coffees which go alongside our food.” Ex-barista Hunter Wren Miele ranks it first among light roasters; coffee YouTuber Brian Quan calls it “hands down my favorite roaster.”
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: foodandwine.com ↗
  3. 3

    Counter Culture Coffee

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Poured at her Las Vegas restaurant: “bold, slightly acidic and delicious.” Chef Ryan Hardy (Charlie Bird) has served “almost exclusively Counter Culture” espresso for a decade; Miele recommends its Apollo light roast.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: tastingtable.com ↗

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on MyTastr. It never affects the ranking. Disclosure

Questions, answered

What is the best coffee beans, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Be Bright Coffee (Los Angeles), chosen by Ori Menashe (Bestia, Bavel); Daniel Cutler (Ronan); Jon Yao (Kato); June Intachat (Otus Thai Kitchen); David Chang (Majordōmo); Debbie Lee (Yi Cha). Roasted by 2024 U.S. Barista Champion Frank La. Menashe blind-tasted several roasters and Be Bright “was the clear favorite for espresso and brewed coffee”; it’s now poured at all his restaurants and at Kato, Majordōmo, Otus and Yi Cha. Source: foodandwine.com ↗
What are the other top picks for coffee beans?
No. 2 is SEY Coffee (Brooklyn), chosen by Flynn McGarry (Gem, Cove). No. 3 is Counter Culture Coffee, chosen by Giada De Laurentiis. Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

More drinks

See every ranking →