Consumer Reports: Best Colombian coffee

Many of you can't get going without that morning coffee. More people are turning to fancier alternatives - like gourmet or premium coffee - and are even going as far as grinding their own beans.

Consumer Reports tested 21 Colombian coffees to find the tastiest.

If you want the freshest-tasting coffee, give whole beans a try. Consumer Reports coffee experts focused on Colombian coffee, ground and whole bean, ranging from $5-$25 a pound.

The experts tasted blind and found a few that rated excellent.

The top-rated is from Counter Culture. It's the La Golondrina Colombia Certified Organic. The coffee has fruit and citrus notes, and traces of berry, floral and chocolate. At 59 cents for a 6-ounce cup, it might seem steep for home brew, but it sure beats coffeehouse prices.

Nine of the Colombian coffees are very good.

Whole beans from Allegro Colombia Agustino Forest from Whole Foods have notes of citrus, honey, milk chocolate and hints of malt and toast. At 23 cents a cup, it's a Consumer Reports best buy.

Another best buy is Kirkland Signature Colombian Supremo Whole Bean from Costco for 13 cents a cup. The medium-dark roast has chocolate notes and a hint of dried fruit.

Consumer Reports tested pre-ground coffees that were very good.

Gevalia's Colombia is a ground coffee with "fruity top notes" for just 16 cents a cup.

To keep your coffee fresh, you put it in the fridge, right? Wrong.

"Do not keep coffee in the refrigerator or freezer, where it can pick up moisture and flavors from other foods. Heat and light can oxidize the beans' oils. So just put it in an airtight container in a kitchen cabinet," said Ellen Klosz, Consumer Reports.

If you want the best-tasting coffee, Consumer Reports said you should avoid grinding your beans at the market, because your coffee can pick up flavors of other beans.

All Consumer Reports Material Copyright 2016. Consumers Union of U.S. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Consumer Reports is a not for profit organization which accepts no advertising. It has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site. For more information visit consumer.org