The Ultimate Guide to Spiller & Tait Coffee Beans
Finding your perfect coffee shouldn't be a guessing game. Whether you crave the intense kick of a dark Italian roast or the juicy sweetness of a Colombian single origin, this guide categorises our award-winning range to help you choose the right bean for your morning cup.
- For a Strong Espresso Kick: Choose Classic Italian or Super Crema.
- For Smooth Daily Drinking: Choose Signature Blend or South American Blend.
- For Fruit & Complexity: Choose Colombian Huila or Peruvian Organic.
- For Decaf: Choose our chemical-free Sparkling Water Decaf.
At a Glance: The Comparison Table
Use this table to quickly compare roast profiles, strengths, flavors, and available formats across our full range.
| Coffee Name | Strength | Bean Type | Flavor Notes | Best For | Sizes | Grind / Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Italian | 5 (High) | Arabica & Robusta | Cocoa, Hazelnut | Morning kick & Lattes | 250g, 1kg | Whole, Ground (Espresso) |
| Super Crema | 4 (Med-Dark) | Arabica & Robusta | Smoky, Cedar | Thick Crema lovers | 250g, 1kg | Whole, Ground |
| Tait's Gold | 3/4 (Med-Dark) | 100% Arabica | Spiced, Chocolate | Gourmet Espresso | 1kg, 250g | Whole, Ground |
| Signature Blend | 3 (Med-High) | 100% Arabica | Almond, Caramel | All-day drinking | 250g, 1kg | Whole, Ground (Filter) |
| Barista Blend | - | Arabica & Robusta | Malty, Earthy | Dependable consistency | 1kg | Whole Bean |
| South American | 4 (Med-Dark) | Fairtrade Arabica | Toffee, Malt | Clean finish | 250g, 1kg | Whole, Ground |
| Colombian Huila | 3 (Medium) | Single Origin | Blackcurrant, Juicy | Fruit lovers (Filter) | 250g, 1kg | Whole, Ground, Coffee Bags |
| Peruvian Organic | 3 (Medium) | Organic Arabica | Citrus, Cashew | Eco-conscious drinkers | 250g, 1kg | Whole, Ground |
| Sparkling Water Decaf | 4 (Med-Dark) | Decaf Arabica | Nutty, Chocolate | Late night brewing | 250g, 1kg | Whole, Ground |
1. The Espresso Specialists (Bold & Intense)
Best for: Espresso machines, Bean-to-Cup machines, Moka Pots, and those who love a "kick."
Classic Italian Blend
The powerhouse. Rated Strength 5, this is a traditional mix of arabica coffee beans and high-quality Robusta. It delivers a heavy body with notes of cocoa and hazelnut. It is the definition of a "pick-me-up."
Super Crema Blend
As the name suggests, this is engineered for texture. If you use a bean-to-cup machine and want that thick, golden foam (crema), this is the one. It features unique notes of cedar wood and pepper for a smoky, intense finish.
Tait's Gold (Gourmet Blend)
Created by our co-founder David Tait, this is for the connoisseur who wants the strength of an Italian espresso but with the refinement of 100% Arabica. It is spicy, bold, and chocolaty, sourced from Colombia, Guatemala, Sumatra, and Brazil.
2. The Daily Drinkers (Smooth & Balanced)
Best for: All-day drinking, office coffee, and consistent flavor.
Signature Blend
Our house favourite and a multi-award winner. It uses fresh coffee beans from 5 different origins to create a perfectly balanced cup with notes of roasted almond and caramelised demerara sugar. It is smooth, warm, and lacks bitterness.
Barista Blend
A "dependable" cup. This blend mixes Arabica and Robusta for a silky texture with malty nuttiness and earthy dark chocolate tones. It provides a reassuring "coffee shop" taste at home.
South American Blend
A Fairtrade option that balances rich maltiness with toffee and caramel. It has a slightly crisper finish than the Signature Blend, with a tiny hint of bitterness to ignite the taste buds.
3. The Single Origins (Fruity & Complex)
Best for: Cafetière (French Press), Filter, V60, and Aeropress.
Pure Colombian Huila
A "Juicy" coffee. Sourced from smallholder farmers in Huila, this Colombian coffee is famous for its blackcurrant and black forest berry notes. It is elegantly sweet and far more complex than a standard blend.
Peruvian Organic & Fairtrade
A clean, eco-friendly choice. Grown in Northern Peru, these arabica beans offer bright citrus acidity softened by cashew and caramel sweetness. It has a crisp, refreshing finish perfect for morning brewing.
4. The Decaf Option
Sparkling Water Decaf
We use a chemical-free "Sparkling Water" process to remove 99.9% of the caffeine without stripping the flavor. Unlike many watery decafs, this medium roast coffee retains a full body with nutty, chocolate notes. It is so good, most people can't tell it's decaf.
Buying Advice: Frequently Asked Questions
Whole Beans vs. Ground: Which should I buy?
We always recommend buying whole coffee beans if you have a grinder. Grinding your beans just before brewing releases the volatile oils (flavor) that are otherwise lost in pre-ground coffee. However, for convenience, most of our range is available as ground coffee beans, specifically calibrated for either Espresso or Cafetière/Filter (check the product page for details).
What makes "Italian" coffee beans different?
Italian coffee beans (or Italian style blends) typically include a percentage of Robusta beans and are roasted darker (Medium-Dark to Dark). This reduces acidity and increases body, creating the punchy, "bitter-sweet" profile that Italy is famous for. Our Classic Italian and Super Crema follow this tradition perfectly.
Are your beans Arabica or Robusta?
We use both, depending on the goal of the blend:
- 100% Arabica: Used in our Signature Blend, Tait's Gold, Peruvian, and Colombian for smoothness and complex flavor.
- Arabica & Robusta Blends: Used in our Classic Italian, Super Crema, and Barista Blend to add caffeine strength, body, and thick crema.
How fresh are the beans?
We roast in small batches in the UK. This means our fresh coffee beans arrive at your door bursting with aroma, vastly superior to supermarket bags that may have sat on shelves for months.
Which coffee is best for a French Press?
If you love a Cafetière, we recommend the medium roast coffee beans found in our Single Origin range (Colombian Huila or Peruvian) or the Signature Blend. These have the complexity and sweetness that shines through in immersion brewing.