The year 2025 will go down in most people’s books as the year coffee prices went through the roof. From port strikes to tariffs to dwindling stocks, much of the coffee industry is walking away from this year bruised and hoping for a brighter 2026. Yet, amidst all the unfavorable headlines, incredible coffees still made their way to our cupping tables, warehouses, and roasteries. Farmers and processors continued to hone their craft, sending us stunning green coffees. Meanwhile, roasters worked their magic, turning those green coffee beans into mind-bending roasts. And our team was hard-pressed to choose which were the Best Coffees of 2025.
Jen Hurd, Genuine Origin West Coast Sales Manager
Jen’s Top Coffee Picks for 2025
I was unaware of this, but 2025 was the year I learned that I have a soft spot for the Java varietal. This year Genuine Origin had the good fortune to source single-variety Java micro-lots from both Colombia and Costa Rica. The Java Natural from Peñas Blancas Mill in Huila, Colombia was far and away my favorite coffee this year – not a huge surprise since legendary producer, Nestor Lasso of Finca El Diviso was involved.
I picked up a bag from Lima Coffee Roasters. It was jammy, berry, tropical, lovely goodness and it very quickly became a household top pick for me. This is a stunning, showstopping coffee, and made every other Java foster excitement for me – and I’ve yet to be disappointed. However, Peñas Blancas is still my fave of the bunch, and I’m so excited to see what 2026 brings for this partnership!
I’ve been very open about my biases, one of them being Yirgacheffe G2 Naturals. I always cup Genuine Origin samples blind, yet somehow I consistently pick out G2 Yirgacheffe Naturals as my favorite Ethiopian coffees. This year was no exception. When it came to picking up a bag of roasted Chelchele Natural, I headed for Archive Coffee & Bar.
Without being a face-melter natural, this coffee has such great sweetness and a blend of tropical/berry/citrus acidity that makes for a very satisfying cup. It can be a fun way to nudge people out of chocolatey/nutty coffees and into something more dynamic and is a really enjoyable cup.
Jay Vernaleken, Genuine Origin East Coast Sales Manager
Jay V’s Best Coffees of 2025
This year, Diego Lopez Narino El Tambo Washed has been in heavy rotation since its arrival. The chocolate and caramel notes play nicely with the fig, which added a touch of funkiness – which I loved! This coffee would make an excellent addition for any roaster looking for something different but without taking the plunge on an experimental process.
Another coffee that consistently made it to my table was Simbai Balus Kopi from Papua New Guinea. This coffee makes an awesome batch brew. It’s vibrant and layered, with bright notes of green grape and juicy plum, rounded by a dried fig sweetness. I would recommend this coffee to anyone seeking a refined, layered cup.
Finca Don Jose Java Natural was hands down my pick for best coffee of 2025. A bold, juicy coffee bursting with black cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, layered with warm cinnamon and rich dark chocolate. Brightly tart with a hint of sangria; it’s a lively and indulgent cup. The price may seem high, but this coffee is worth every penny.
I would be remiss if I didn’t call out ModCup’s Disco Peach Connection on my my best coffee list for 2025. Even though it didn’t come from GO. It combines a Colombian co-ferment from Edwin Noreña and a washed Ethiopian heirloom variety coffee. The result is a fruit forward cup with a wild side: notes were candied peach, lychee, jasmine, and floral – absolutely delectable.
Cyndi Chirco, Genuine Origin Gulf Coast Sales Manager
Cyndi’s 2025 Top Coffees
Coffee Project NY – Montano Micro-Mill Jaguar Anaerobic Honey – The green came from the Montano Micro-mill, part of our network of mills in Costa Rica. Seriously, this coffee is like a warm hug. Juicy white grape, cinnamon roll, and cocoa. It’s well-balanced and unique.
Cool Roast Curves – “Greenish Hill Area” Rwanda 72-hr Low Oxygen Natural – This coffee made my shortlist because of how much love must have gone into the processing – hats off to the producer on this one! I tasted rich cranberry, brown spice, red apple sweetness with just a bit of booziness to the finish.
Vice City Bean – Midtown Espresso Blend – This coffee is one of my Best of 2025 because it is so well-rounded and sweet. It combines two standout lots from GO, El Tiple Pitalito Supremo and Sidama Natural. It is balanced by tasting notes of chocolate, caramel and just so easy to drink.
Steven Edwards, Genuine Origin Inside Sales
Steven Edwards Best Coffees 2025
My first nominee for the best coffees of 2025 is our Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Chelchele G1 Washed. Good news: this coffee was a newer arrival and we still have boxes in stock in case you’re looking for a new coffee to wow your customers. I tasted this Yirgacheffe for the first time in our QC cupping lab in Irvington, NY and it leaped off the table. I tasted lemon candy, honey, and jasmine tea florals. This coffee stopped me in my tracks. I started asking if the producers did something magical to it, “Surely this is a co-ferment or anaerobic?”, I asked. Nope! It’s just a gorgeous, washed coffee indicative of one of the best regions in Ethiopia.
Compared to other origins, I think a lot of coffee pros sleep on Costa Rican coffees. But this washed single-variety Kenia micro-lot from Finca El Centro delivers top-tier complexity in a bomb of flavor. The Kenia variety is can be traced back to Kenya, but this coffee comes to us by way of Costa Rica’s soil, sun and rain. On the cupping table I tasted milk chocolate, orange, pie crust, green apple, lime, brown sugar and pineapple. When drinking this coffee, I suggest waiting until it cools off a little bit. When hot, it’s deceptively simple, but, as it cools, new layers begin to pop out at you. I was blown away by its almost chameleonic quality. A coffee like this one from El Centro doesn’t come along all that often, so get it while you can.
Sumatra Gajah Estate G1 TP Natural was another coffee that was just unbelievable. I cupped this one blind, and my first thought was, this tastes red and juicy. I guessed the origin wrong six times before I was told it was a Natural from Sumatra! This coffee is very clean for a natural, and had notes of strawberry, cherry, hibiscus, Big Red, and honey. Believe me when I say this one is not to be missed!
Of course, I found no shortage of stellar roasted coffees in 2025. It was tough making this shortlist, but here goes:
Middle State Coffee (Denver, CO) – Antonio Medina Guatemala – I visit Denver every few months and with their plethora of roasters there is no shortage of great coffee. Middle State is a shop and roaster for the cool kids in town which always features some of the most delicious, complex coffees you can find anywhere. This washed Guatemala was an explosion of honey, raw sugar, and green apple. Endlessly sweet and unforgettable.
La Cabra (New York, NY) – Sudan Rume Natural – Taking a trip to NYC for a coffee lover is always a treat. La Cabra is one of the best in the world at sourcing coffee. This Sudan Rume is top 1% of coffee available anywhere — it is a relatively rare varietal, mostly grown in Colombia, and unique unto itself. I’ve tasted the Sudan Rume varietal a few times in my career and it’s unmistakable. It tastes like a McDonald’s hot cakes with sausage and syrup. That sounds crazy, but order some next time it’s in season and see for yourself.
Wrapping Up Coffee 2025
Despite the turbulence of 2025, one thing remained constant: coffee’s ability to surprise, delight, and connect us. From rare varietals to experimental processes, no matter how difficult this year was, the coffee constantly reminded us why we love what we do.
As we look ahead to 2026, we’re hoping for market stability but we’re filled with optimism for the continued creativity and dedication of producers and roasters. Here’s to another year of unforgettable coffees and shared experiences.
