Guide · Beans and ground coffee
The best value coffee beans in the UK: 1kg bags compared by price per kg
Cheap 1kg coffee bean bags from Morrisons, Sainsbury's and the big brands, compared by price per kilo, with what each suits and prices checked on 3 Oct 2026.
Looking for the best value coffee beans UK supermarkets and brands sell? It mostly comes down to one number: the price per kilo. This guide compares 1kg bags of whole beans from Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and the big Italian brands on that basis, using prices we checked on each retailer’s own website on 3 Oct 2026, and says what each bag is meant for. We haven’t tested this in person. Picks are based on price per kilo and what each pack says, not on how they taste. Read how we compare.
The short version: on 3 Oct 2026, supermarket own-label 1kg espresso bags were the cheapest per kilo at £14.25.
Best value coffee beans UK: how to judge them
Price per kilo, not price per bag. A 200g bag at £3.50 looks cheap, but that’s £17.50 a kilo. Supermarkets print the per-kilo price on the shelf and online; use it.
Bigger isn’t always cheaper. Costa’s 1kg Intense Amazonian bag was £19.95 at Morrisons on 3 Oct 2026, while Costa’s 200g Amazonian beans were £3.50, or £17.50 a kilo. Our Costa coffee beans page has the detail.
Check how fast you’ll use it. A kilo of beans is a lot for one person. Most packs advise an airtight container once open, and some say to use within two weeks. If a big bag goes stale before you finish it, the saving disappears.
Check on the day. Supermarket bean prices move often, so compare the price per kilo when you buy.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who buys by origin or roaster first. This guide puts price per kilo first.
Cheapest per kilo: supermarket own-label
Morrisons Espresso Blend, 1kg
£14.25 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026. The pack describes it as smooth, dark and creamy, strength 5 on Morrisons’ guide, for all espresso coffee makers, and Rainforest Alliance certified. On our checks it was the joint cheapest 1kg bag, with Sainsbury’s Fairtrade Espresso.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who likes a light roast. It’s labelled strong.
Sainsbury’s Fairtrade Espresso Wholebean, 1kg
£14.25 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026. Same price per kilo as the Morrisons bag, with Fairtrade certification.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a single origin. It’s an espresso blend.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Single Origin Colombian, 1kg
£16.50 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026. It’s 100% arabica, single origin. It costs more than the two espresso blends above.
Who it isn’t for: anyone choosing purely on price. It’s £2.25 a kilo more than the own-label espresso bags.
Branded 1kg bags
Löfbergs Brazil Single Origin and Löfbergs Espresso, 1kg. Both £16.50 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Kimbo Intenso, 1kg. £17.54 at Kimbo at Home, checked 3 Oct 2026, but delivery is £7 unless you spend over £50, so one bag costs £24.54 delivered. See Kimbo vs Lavazza.
Lavazza Qualità Rossa, 1kg. Check price at Morrisons.
Lavazza Crema e Gusto Classico, 1kg. £18.50 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026. Our Lavazza Crema e Gusto review covers the range.
Costa Intense Amazonian, 1kg. £19.95 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, the dearest kilo here.
Who it isn’t for: shoppers chasing the lowest price. The branded bags cost £2.25 to £5.70 a kilo more than own-label.
Which value beans suit which machine?
- Bean-to-cup machines: any of these 1kg bags will work, and 1kg suits a machine that gets used daily. Very oily dark beans can clog some grinders, so check your machine’s manual.
- Espresso machine with a separate grinder: the espresso blends (Morrisons, Sainsbury’s Fairtrade, Lavazza, Kimbo) are labelled for espresso.
- Cafetière or filter: the single origins (Sainsbury’s Colombian, Löfbergs Brazil) are the likelier fit, ground coarser.
Who it isn’t for: anyone without a grinder. Whole beans need grinding, or buy ground coffee instead.
What we couldn’t check
- Tesco: blocked our checks, so no Tesco prices.
- Aldi and Lidl: neither showed whole-bean coffee online on 3 Oct 2026, so we can’t price them. Their in-store ranges may differ, so check the shelf price per kilo when you visit.
For more on own-label coffee, see our supermarket coffee ranges page.
Downsides
- Prices move. Own-label and branded bag prices change often, so check them on the day you buy.
- Compare the price per kilo, not the pack price. A bigger bag isn’t always cheaper per kilo.
- Buy only what you’ll use. Once opened, keep beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard, and finish them within a few weeks for the best flavour.
- A kilo goes stale. If you drink one cup a day, a kilo can last over a month.
- We couldn’t check Tesco, Aldi or Lidl, so a cheaper bag may exist there.
FAQ
What are the cheapest coffee beans per kilo in the UK? On our 3 Oct 2026 checks, Morrisons Espresso Blend and Sainsbury’s Fairtrade Espresso, both £14.25 for 1kg.
Is a 1kg bag of coffee beans always better value? No. Costa’s 1kg bag cost more per kilo than its 200g bags at Morrisons on 3 Oct 2026.
Are supermarket own-label coffee beans any good for espresso? The Morrisons and Sainsbury’s Fairtrade bags are labelled as espresso blends. We haven’t tested them in person.
How long does a 1kg bag of coffee beans last once opened? Packs typically advise an airtight container once opened, and some advise using within two weeks. Buy a size you’ll finish.