Not all coffees are created equal, according to the OCU.
In Spain, each inhabitant consumes on average about 4 kgs of coffee annually (not so much compared to the 6 kgs of the European average or the 13 kgs per year of the Norwegian average).
The OCU has carried out an analysis to determine the quality of thecoffee drunk in Spain, taking into account factors such as price, quality of labeling, or taste of the product, as well as the presence of some common contaminants in this type of products.
The best coffee brands in Spain
Coffeeis a product of which there is a lot of variety. Both in the coffee bean that is used, and in its type of roasting and preparation, there are a thousand factors that change the organoleptic characteristics of a cup of coffee.
This huge variety of product also means thatsome of them will rise above the others, either objectively or subjectively. In this OCU ranking, objective valuation values of several ground coffee products were used, such as:
- Price
- Sustainability
- Ethical practices
- Product quality
- Taste
It is important to note that this analysis has included the main industrial brands of coffee, without mentioning small and medium-sized companies producing this product. Despite the growing popularity of shops and bars specializing in coffee, the OCU analysisfocuses on those products that we can usually find in supermarkets,
Factors such as the ease of recycling of packaging or the use of their capacity have also been important when making the ranking. Those containers that were not filled to their maximum capacity or that presentedexcessive disposable material or difficult to recycle, scored less in the ranking.
Among the 29 coffee brands analyzed , only about 4 stood out for their flavor above all others. Coincidentally, they were the ones that scored the best in most of the categories evaluated, making them the best coffee brands in Spain. The others, according to the OCU, are not bad in taste, but it is not remarkable at all.
The 10 best coffee brands in Spain are the following:
1. Alipende (Save more)
The coffee of the Alipende brand , from the Madrid chain Saving More, was proclaimed the absolute winner in the flavor category within the analysis. Its competitive price of between €1.19 and €1.21, in addition to its ecological packaging and maximization of filling, make Alipende coffee the best valued by the OCU analysis.
2. Bunker
From the Nestlé brand, Bonka coffee is well known for its good taste and good product quality. Even so, its high price (€8/kg, twice as much as the rest of the products in the top 4) deducts points from other coffee brands.
3. Bellaron (Lidl)
This coffee from the German discount supermarket brand, Lidl, ranks as one of the best coffees in Spain. It has a reduced price of approximately €1.20 per 250gr container, in addition to being naturally roasted coffee, without roasting.
Although roasting offers a greater variety in the intensity of flavors , especially if it is mixed with naturally roasted coffee, the bitter aftertaste that it leaves behind is not loved by everyone. If you like a coffee with a more delicate flavor, Bellaron coffee is one of the best options.
4. Ally
Aliada brand coffee belongs to the El Corte Inglés supermarkets , ranking as one of the 4 with the best flavor among the 29 coffee brands analyzed by the OCU. It is competitively priced and has a very nice roasted flavor, like roasted coffee in the mix. If you are looking for the traditionally bitter taste of Spanish coffee, this is one of the best options.
- It may interest you: “Leave coffee: 12 reasons not to drink caffeine”
5. Journey
The Dia brand, despite being in the doldrums for a few years, has some products of surprising quality . One of these products is coffee, naturally roasted and free of most of the contaminants that were sought in the analysis, such as ashes (ashes contain potentially carcinogenic substances).
6. JSP
The JSP company only sells within the Canary Islands . Even so, it is among the top 6 coffee brands in the entire state. They offer various coffee products, with different types of roasting and formats – ground, whole bean, bagged, packaged…-.
7. Intermon Oxfam
Intermón Oxfam coffee is the only one on the list that can be proud of belonging to the category of fair trade products. These products are manufactured and marketed in such a way that they favor the economy of the place where they are grown , usually developing countries that other companies take advantage of with too low payments.
A great coffee with a big heart, although its price is slightly higher than the average due to its fair trade policy.
8. Markus (Aldi)
It is common to see German brands in rankings of Spanish products. This is also the case for Markus , a coffee marketed through the Aldi supermarket brand. This product has a very low price, but its coffee does not have as much caffeine content as the rest of the list. Its taste, nothing to write home about.
9. Harrowing
The Canarian brand Tirma, which has also reached the peninsula -for example, through its incredible chocolate bars-, has a high-quality coffee that has little to envy other brands. Medium roast and good caffeine content in each cup.
10. Basque
The Basqué brand moves in the north of Spain , through La Rioja and the Basque Country. This brand has a long coffee tradition -centennial-, with products in various formats and biodegradable packaging. A great option for a smooth and aromatic coffee.
The worst coffee brands
Even if they are the worst scored, they are still good products, suitable for consumption. They simply have not been able to stand out, but their score is not too far from the best coffee brands, so if any of them are your favorite, do not suffer.
Among the worst brands in this ranking, we would find the brand Eroski or Hacendado, well-known white brands that tend to produce quality genre at competitive prices. Luckily, the OCU confirms that all the products in its ranking are of quality, at least, acceptable.
References
- Analysis of Spanish coffee, (2014) OCU: www.ocu.org Compra Maestra nº 393.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.