Best coffee blends in the grocery store and online

When it comes to coffee, big names don't guarantee great flavor. Brands such as Folgers and Maxwell House didn't stand up to specialty brands such as Allegro and Stumptown in our latest taste test of coffee blends.

Even money-saving store brands such as Trader Joe's Joe and Kirkland Signature House Blend from Costco beat out the old supermarket standbys, which is a good thing because coffee prices are skyrocketing. You can find our top-rated ground coffee, Allegro Organic Continental Blend, at Whole Foods Markets. The whole-bean version came in third in our Ratings.

The top-rated whole-bean coffee was Blue Bottle Three Africans, which is available on the company's website and in branded cafés in California and New York. No matter which brand of coffee you buy, using filtered or bottled water is the secret to a great cup of joe. Even the best coffee can pick up funky flavors from your tap.

—Rachel Meltzer-Warren, M.S., R.D.N.