Starbucks Whole Coffee Beans, Dark Roast Hot or Iced Coffee

First created in 1975, this multi-region blend still serves as the foundation for handcrafted espresso drinks in Starbucks stores around the world. Our team spent hands-on time with the Starbucks Whole Coffee Beans, Dark Roast Hot or Iced Coffee to see how it holds up against the rest of the coffee beans we've tested.

Across repeated sessions we evaluated it on the categories that matter most: quality, consistency, value, and how likely we are to reach for it again. Ranked #165 of our top 200 coffee beans — an outstanding dark pick with caramel, molasses, bold notes, earning a 4.7★ average across 6,529 Amazon ratings.

First created in 1975, this multi-region blend still serves as the foundation for handcrafted espresso drinks in Starbucks stores around the world. The perfect melding of beans and roast reveals notes of rich molasses and a bold, caramelly sweetness—a flavor profile so incredible it’s never been changed. Delicious on its own or balanced with milk. Nestlé uses Starbucks trademarks under license.​ © 2025 Starbucks Coffee Company.

From the roaster

• PREMIUM WHOLE BEAN COFFEE: Enjoy the Starbucks coffee you love at home with six 12-ounce bags of Starbucks Espresso Roast dark roast whole bean coffee
• BOLD: Starbucks Espresso Roast is a bold coffee—dark and complex with depth of flavor, featuring notes of rich molasses and caramel
• HOT OR ICED COFFEE: Enjoy your coffee your way—brew it hot or over ice for a refreshing pick-me-up. Add your favorite coffee creamer for a personalized touch, or enjoy balanced, black coffee for a satisfying sip any time of day
• BREW IT YOUR WAY: Enjoy the same delicious Starbucks taste, no matter how you make your cup—whether it’s a rich French press, classic drip brew or smooth pour-over
• CAFÉ QUALITY: Starbucks adheres to the highest quality standards—shipping you the same artfully crafted Arabica coffee beans brewed in Starbucks cafés​

What we liked

• Strong overall Coffee Score of 8.4/10 — ranked #647 of 1193 (55% percentile).
• Distinct flavor profile: Caramel, Molasses, Bold, Smooth.
• Community agrees — a Coffee Lovers Score of 9.4/10 from 6,529 ratings.