One bag per country: the highest independent score we could find that you can actually buy, ranked on taste alone. If the best coffee comes from a roaster that pays us nothing, it's still the pick.
| No. | Destination | Coffee | Roaster | Score | Fare | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | HAWAII | LAURA'S RESERVE SL34 | Hula Daddy | 98 | $99.95 | Buy → |
| 02 | PERU | GERMAN CARRANZA GESHA | Roadmap CoffeeWorks | 97 | $34 | Details |
| 03 | COLOMBIA | MARLON BOLAÑOS WASHED AJÍ BOURBON, HUILA | Heady Cup | 96 | $36 | Buy → |
| 04 | COSTA RICA | LAS LAJAS DOUBLE DIAMOND ANAEROBIC | Magnolia Coffee | 96 | $32 | Buy → |
| 05 | KENYA | KATHAKWA KENYA PEABERRY, EMBU | JBC Coffee Roasters | 96 | $26 | Buy → |
Picks are chosen on quality alone. Some links earn us a commission at no extra cost to you; links marked “No commission” earn us nothing. Prices checked November 2026. How we choose
20 of 20 countries
1Hawaii (Kona)Kona district, Hawai'i Island98scoreThe highest-scoring coffee on this whole list. A rare SL34 variety grown in Kona. Price from the review.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 98, Aug 2026
Value pick: 100% Kona Premium, Kona Earth · from $35
2PeruCajamarca97scoreA Peruvian Gesha that scored higher than our Panama pick. Price from the review.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 97, Oct 2026
Value pick: Mina Rica, Placer Roasting · $22
3ColombiaHuila96scoreA rare Ají Bourbon lot from Huila: far more fruit and spice than the Colombia you know.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 96, Oct 2026
Value pick: Popayán Colombia, Haiku Brew · $19
No commission: links straight to the roaster
4Costa RicaTarrazú96scoreAn award-winning anaerobic lot from one of Costa Rica's most famous micro-mills. Intensely sweet and fruity.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 96, Aug 2026 · Good Food Award 2026
Value pick: Hacienda La Minita, Tarrazú, Bear Lake Coffee · $18
No commission: links straight to the roaster
5KenyaNyeri, Central Highlands96scoreJuicy, blackcurrant-bright Kenyan peaberry. One of the highest-scoring coffees reviewed this year.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 96, Oct 2026 · Limited lot
Value pick: Kenya Nyeri Gachatha, Milk & Honey · $22
No commission: links straight to the roaster
6PanamaBoquete, Chiriquí96scorePanama Gesha is the world's most celebrated coffee: jasmine, bergamot and tropical fruit.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 96, Nov 2025 (current lot may differ)
Value pick: Panama Chiriquí Light Roast, Rusty Dog Coffee · $25.75
No commission: links straight to the roaster
7EthiopiaYirgacheffe, Gedeo Zone95scoreA washed Yirgacheffe from a roaster with a long run of top scores. Floral, citrusy and clean: Ethiopia at its classic best.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 95, Oct 2026
Value pick: Organic Ethiopia Ayla Shantawene, Northbound Coffee · $22
No commission: links straight to the roaster
8HondurasMarcala, La Paz95scoreA fruit-forward natural from Marcala, one of Honduras's best regions.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 95, Sep 2026
Value pick: Bourbon Natural Microlot, Bear Lake Coffee · from $24
9JamaicaBlue Mountains, eastern Jamaica95scoreA genuine single-estate Blue Mountain. Look for "100% Jamaica Blue Mountain" and a named estate: "blend" or "style" means it isn't the real thing.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 95, Sep 2026 · UK roaster; may not ship to the US
Alternative: JBM Coffea Diversa Geisha + Bourbon Rey, Paradise Roasters · about $50
10MexicoChiapas95scoreGrown by a women's cooperative in Chiapas. Proof that great Mexican coffee doesn't have to cost much.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 95, Sep 2026
Value pick: Organic Mexico Chiapas La Concordia, Northbound Coffee · $21
No commission: links straight to the roaster
11Papua New GuineaEastern Highlands (Goroka)95scoreA rare high-scoring PNG microlot: sweet, fruity and easy to love.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 95, Jun 2026
12BurundiKayanza94scoreBurundi tastes like a cousin of Rwanda: bright, sweet and juicy. This is a great example.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 94, Aug 2026
Value pick: Masha Microlot Yellow Honey, Intuition Coffee · $17.50
No commission: links straight to the roaster
13El SalvadorSanta Ana, Apaneca-Ilamatepec94scoreThe highest-scoring Salvadoran coffee we found: a natural-process lot. Check the roaster's site for price and stock.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 94, Mar 2026
14NicaraguaJinotega94scoreA single-farm Nicaraguan lot: sweet, round and chocolatey.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 94, Aug 2026
Value pick: Obsidian, Regenerative Organic, Utopian Coffee · from $19
15RwandaNyamasheke, Lake Kivu94scoreBright and sweet, with the red-fruit and black-tea notes Rwanda is known for.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 94, Sep 2026
16GuatemalaAntigua93scoreClassic Antigua: cocoa, toffee and a gentle citrus lift.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 93, Sep 2026
Value pick: Guatemala Guaya'B Natural, Durango Coffee · about $18.25
No commission: links straight to the roaster
17IndiaChikmagalur, Karnataka93scoreIndian arabica is rarely this good: spice, cocoa and a creamy body.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 93, Jul 2025
No commission: links straight to the roaster
18IndonesiaGayo Highlands, Sumatra93scoreThe highest-scoring Sumatra we found in stock: the earthy, syrupy body Sumatra is known for.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 93, Sep 2026
Value pick: Sumatra Mandheling Girsang, Beacon Coffee · $18
No commission: links straight to the roaster
19UgandaMount Elgon (Bugisu)92scoreUgandan arabica from Mount Elgon: sweet, fruity and full-bodied.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 92, Dec 2024 · Older review; may be sold out
20BrazilSul de Minas, Minas Gerais90scoreNo top-scoring Brazil was in stock when we checked, so this is our pick for now: nutty, chocolatey and great with milk.
Why we trust it: Coffee Review 90, Dec 2025
Buying Jamaica Blue Mountain or Kona? Look for “100% Jamaica Blue Mountain” or “100% Kona”. “Blend” or “style” usually means mostly other coffee. Every source we use.
