BEST INSTANT: Maxwell House Instant Coffee
Our tasters described this dark-colored quickie as full, smooth and nutty. “It tastes like coffee!” enthused one surprised cynic; another called its vanilla zing “heavenly.”

BEST DECAF: Dunkin’ Donuts Dunkin’ Decaf
Tasters commented on its “nutty, round” and even “cake-ish” flavor, calling it a “sweetie-pie pick-me-up” and the “perfect sip.”

BEST CLASSIC: Starbucks French Roast
Our panelists would brew this blend anytime of day, claiming it’s a “solid wake-me-up coffee,” perfect for “some midday oomph” or a “delightful nightcap.”

BEST ORGANIC/FAIR-TRADE: Allegro Coffee Company Rwanda Karaba Whole Bean
This earthy blend is a “full, serious coffee—not for wimps,” warned one panelist. The beans, produced by the Koakaka cooperative outside the village of Karaba, would pair irresistibly with any doughnut.

BEST FLAVORED: Community Coffee & Chicory New Orleans Blend
In a fiercely competitive category, the deep Arabica beans and bittersweet chicory of this chirpy NOLA favorite made for a “smooth finish”; one panelist found it “bold, rich and classy.”