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Best Medium Roast Coffee

Medium roast is where most specialty coffee shows its best balance—origin character intact, sweetness developed, acidity rounded but still present. It's the roast level that works across brew methods and doesn't require dialing in like light roasts or forgive mistakes like dark roasts. Most third-wave roasters aim for this range as their house style.

15 picks · Last updated

What to know

  • Look for roast dates within 2-4 weeks; medium roasts peak faster than light.
  • Central and South American coffees offer chocolate and nut; African coffees bring fruit and florals.
  • Bag labels saying 'Full City' or 'American' usually indicate medium roast territory.
  • Price per ounce matters more than bag size—quality beans run $16-24 per pound.
  • Whole bean always; pre-ground medium roast goes stale within days, not weeks.

Top picks

  1. 1.
    Founder's Blend
    Stumptown Coffee Roasters
    Blend·medium roast
    US$5.88/100g
    $20.00 bag
  2. 2.
    Echo Canyon Half-Caff
    Stumptown Coffee
    ·medium roast
    US$5.88/100g
    $20.00 bag
  3. 3.
    Daterra Sundrop Medium, Brazil
    George Howell Coffee
    Brazil·natural·medium roast
    US$7.65/100g
    $26.00 bag
  4. 4.
    Las Palomas Medium, Guatemala
    George Howell Coffee
    Guatemala·medium roast
    US$8.53/100g
    $29.00 bag
  5. 5.
    Worka Chelbessa Medium, Ethiopia
    George Howell Coffee
    Ethiopia·honey·medium roast
    US$7.65/100g
    $26.00 bag
  6. 6.
    Iridescent
    Counter Culture Coffee
    ·Washed & Natural Sundried Certifications: Kosher Available·medium roast
    US$7.65/100g
    $26.00 bag
  7. 7.
    Slow Motion – Decaf
    Counter Culture Coffee
    ·unless otherwise noted·medium roast
    US$5.88/100g
    $20.00 bag
  8. 8.
    Frequency Blend
    Intelligentsia Coffee
    Blend·medium roastGood value
    US$5.15/100g
    $17.50 bag
  9. 9.
    El Gallo Blend
    Intelligentsia Coffee
    Blend·medium roastGood value
    US$5.44/100g
    $18.50 bag
  10. 10.
    El Salvador-Samuel Luna Pacamara
    Big Shoulders Coffee
    El Salvador·medium roast
    US$9.41/100g
    $32.00 bag
  11. 11.
    1848
    Big Shoulders Coffee
    Blend·Washed 1848 4.88 / 5.0 (24) 24 total reviews Whole Bean / 12·medium roast
    US$7.65/100g
    $26.00 bag
  12. 12.
    Costa Rica SL-28 Yellow Honey
    Big Shoulders Coffee
    Costa Rica·honey·medium roast
    US$9.41/100g
    $32.00 bag
  13. 13.
    Honduras - Luna Azul Decaf
    La Colombe Coffee Roasters
    Honduras·Washed, Swiss Water Process Altitude : 1,400 - 1,800 meters Farm : Hermanos Arita, Romero, Sitio Viejo·medium roastGood value
    US$5.29/100g
    $18.00 bag
  14. 14.
    Bowery Blend - Organic
    La Colombe Coffee Roasters
    Blend·medium roastGood value
    US$5.29/100g
    $18.00 bag
  15. 15.
    Brazil Nossa Mesa
    La Colombe Coffee Roasters
    Brazil·Natural Altitude : 1,200 M·medium roastGood value
    US$5.29/100g
    $18.00 bag

Bottom line

The right medium roast should taste clean, sweet, and distinct—not generic or flat. If you're brewing at home daily, this roast level gives you the most margin for error while still delivering real flavor. Check our brewing guides to get the most from whatever you pick.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Medium Roast Coffee

Based on live prices and quality data across hundreds of US specialty roasters, top picks include Founder's Blend by Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Echo Canyon Half-Caff by Stumptown Coffee, Daterra Sundrop Medium, Brazil by George Howell Coffee. See the full ranked list at bakio.co/buyers-guide/best-medium-roast-coffee.

How is best medium roast coffee ranked on Bakio?

Bakio combines independent expert cupping scores (CoffeeReview), industry awards (Good Food Awards, Cup of Excellence), community ratings, and retail reviews into a 0-100 quality score. Then we filter top medium roast coffees ranked. Methodology at bakio.co/about/methodology.

How often is best medium roast coffee updated?

Prices and availability refresh weekly from roaster webshops; quality scores update as new expert reviews and awards land. The ranked list at bakio.co/buyers-guide/best-medium-roast-coffee reflects the latest data.

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