Germany is a coffee-loving country, and there are many different types of coffee to choose from. In this blog post, we will discuss the 5 best brands of German coffee and what makes them so special. We will also talk about the different types of coffee available in Germany and how to order them.
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About German Coffee
Germany has a long and illustrious history with coffee, and several of the greatest coffee innovations have emerged from German inventors and entrepreneurs. The drink was initially known as kaffee, and it became a popular beverage in the mid-nineteenth century.
Germany has largely ignored coffee production because it’s not located in an ideal spot for growing coffee beans. Instead, it is presently one of Europe’s largest coffee importers, roasters, and re-exporters.
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Leonhard Rauwolf, a German physician and traveler from Augsburg, is credited with the first description of coffee in European publications. Rauwolf wrote about his travels throughout Asia in 1582, describing a coffee beverage known as “chaube.”
Coffee was first introduced to Germany by the country’s upper and wealthy classes during the latter part of the 17th century.
The ancient German port of Bremen was known as a meeting place for merchants. From there, the ship made its way to Hamburg.
Bremen and Hamburg have long been the primary points of entry for German coffee imports, which they still are. Frederick the Great of Prussia heavily controlled coffee seed and roasting in order to protect his people from poor-quality coffee.
Only officials and other elites were allowed to roast coffee in the state. Frederick even employed hundreds of “Coffee Sniffers,” who were police known to enforce laws against roasting coffee and penalize offenders.
The Coffee Sniffers were disbanded following Frederick the Great’s death in 1786. Coffee remained a luxury item for a few more decades after that until it was affordable to the masses by the mid-nineteenth century.
Great German Coffee Inventions
There are a few German inventors who are still credited with creating coffee products today. In 1905, a Bremen man named Ludwig Roselius came up with the idea of decaffeinating coffee. It was marketed as Kaffee HAG.
Coffee drinkers had to deal with clogged sieves or grounds in their coffee before the filter. There was no way to obtain a clean cup of coffee without having any ground in it. The grounds frequently became trapped in people’s teeth, resulting in an unpleasant bitterness.
Melitta Bentz was a housewife from Dresden who became an inventor and entrepreneur as a result of her frustration with coffee grinds. She discovered how to filter out the grounds by using blotting paper, which she patented in 1908.
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Where German Coffee Comes From
The majority of coffee beans used in German cafes are imported from other nations where the drink is grown. These countries include smallholder farms, grower’s associations and cooperatives, or large coffee plantations.
Big German coffee roasting companies have the ability to work with and import green coffee beans straight from the countries where they are grown.
Smaller roasters purchase green coffee beans from importers, sales agents, and occasionally directly from the grower.
The roasted coffee beans are then sent to local and international markets, coffee shops, supermarkets, and other locations. Coffee is conveyed to Germany from all over the world through Hamburg and Bremen, the two most significant ports.
Germany is the EU’s largest importer, importing more than 18.5 million 60-kg bags of coffee beans each year since 2016. Coffee is cultivated in Brazil, Vietnam, and Honduras, which are Germany’s three main coffee suppliers.
Main Coffee Roasters in Germany
In terms of quantity, Germany produces the most coffee in Europe. In 2018, the country produced 551,000 tonnes of roasted coffee.
Italy was home to 31% of the EU’s roasted coffee output, followed by Italy with 23%.
There are a few distinctive German coffee producers, and if you’re looking for some to try, keep in mind that the names may appear again and again. Germany has a number of big-scale coffee roasters that dominate the market, which is why you’ll see the same brand names repeatedly. These companies include:
- Dallmayr
- Tchibo
- Jacobs
- J. Darboven
The roasting equipment at this store is available in a variety of different roasts. German coffee beans are typically lightly roasted, although lighter and darker roasts are still accessible.
German Coffee Quality Scale
There are four quality levels for German coffee, which are divided based on the bean’s quality. They include:
- Low-end
- Mid-range
- High-end
- Upper-end
Lower-quality German coffee generally refers to those blended from Robusta beans, which can often be found in grocery stores. An example of a lower-end German coffee brand would be Jacobs.
Middle-range coffee is of excellent quality. Robusta and Arabica types are both available at this level. You may also come across some organic and fair trade coffees.
You can find German coffee brands of this level in regular supermarkets, but also at restaurants and cafes.
German coffees of the highest quality and excellence include superb high-end and upper-end varieties. They generally have cupping scores of at least 80. Arabica varietals that are fully washed are used in most cases.
The top end of the market is for single-origin coffees, which are often produced directly by the provider and are, therefore, completely traceable. This level offers high-quality specialty coffee. The upper-end market is still quite small, but it’s gaining popularity.
German Coffee Roasting Style and Flavors
Because the roasters import beans from various countries, German coffee flavor profiles are different. Coffee-producing regions in the Bean Belt are visited by German roasters.
The sweetness of the beans, as well as their flavor profiles, vary depending on where they were grown.
The most significant thing to consider about German coffees is their quality. Higher-quality brands will advertise that their beans are 100 percent Arabica, which means they’re of higher quality. These beans will be in the high-end to top-end range of quality.
The quality of a coffee blend is determined by the quantity of Arabica and Robusta beans used. This does not imply that they do not taste as wonderful! If you enjoy strong, earthy tastes in your coffee, you may prefer German coffees with Robusta beans.
No matter your roasting preference, you’ll find what you’re looking for with German coffee brands. Most of the coffee consumed in Germany is mild-medium roast, but dark roasts are also popular.
5 German Coffee Brands to Try
Tchibo RöstFrisch Classic Blend Coffee
Tchibo is one of Germany’s best coffee roasters. The company’s Classic Blend is a medium roast made entirely of Arabica beans. It has a mild flavor profile with undertones of red berries and dried fruits. Other roasts include their Rostmeister dark roast, which has a more robust body and tastes bittersweet chocolate.
Dallmayr Prodomo Ground Coffee
Dallmayr is another well-known German coffee roaster. Prodomo Ground Coffee is made up of 100 percent Arabica beans from the highlands of major coffee-producing countries such as Papua New Guinea and Brazil.
This coffee is a medium roast with a robust flavor and some acidity. It’s ground to a fine powder, which might be an issue depending on how you brew your coffee.
Jacobs Krönung Ground Coffee
At Jacobs, they produce a myriad of coffee variations, such as whole bean, ground, instant, and mixes. Their Jacobs Krönung Ground Coffee is mildly roasted for great enjoyment. This coffee has a fuller body with a medium intensity. It might be a good option if you’re looking for something that isn’t too strong.
Although Jacobs is a low-end coffee brand, it’s still very popular in Germany. The company has been around for over 100 years, and continues to be one of the most loved coffee brands in the country.
EduScho Gala Nr. 1 Ground Coffee
EduScho Gala Nr. 1 Ground Coffee is a perfect choice if you’re looking for a dark-roasted German coffee. It’s categorized as low to mid-level because it consists of both Arabica and Robusta beans, which creates a unique rich flavor that everyone can enjoy.
The Robusta beans in this coffee provide a woody aftertaste, while the Arabica beans highlight chocolate undertones. It has a lovely aroma and rich flavor.
J.J. Darboven IDEE Kaffee Classic
The idea for Kaffee Classic was conceived by German coffee roasting company J.J. Darboven. This coffee has a well-balanced flavor with moderate strength, acidity, and body. It’s the ideal coffee for anybody seeking a milder brew without sacrificing caffeine content.
If you’re looking for a more robust flavor in your coffee, this may not be the best choice. The fact that it is ground could also make it less fresh than some other options. Additionally, you might find better value elsewhere as this one is on the pricier side.
Best German coffee
German coffee is renowned for its quality and variety. Whether you’re a fan of dark or light roasts, there’s sure to be a German coffee brand that suits your taste. Our list of the 5 best German coffee brands will give you a good starting point for trying out some new coffees. So, what are you waiting for? Get brewing!
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