Which coffee is right for you? 5 questions to ask

Choosing coffee doesn't have to be guesswork. Ask yourself these five questions and you'll quickly land on the pods or beans that suit you — no barista qualification required.

1. What do you brew with?

Nespresso® machine, Dolce Gusto®, or a bean-to-cup/grinder? This decides the format before anything else — pods for the first two, 1kg beans for the last. Check with our machine guide if you're unsure.

2. Do you take it black or with milk?

Black-coffee drinkers can focus on straight espresso and lungo pods. Milk drinkers should pick a bolder coffee that cuts through, and consider cappuccino or milk pods — see the best pods for milky coffee.

3. How strong do you like it?

Mild and smooth, balanced, or strong and bold? Intensity is about flavour and body, not caffeine (here's why). Match it to your taste and you'll enjoy every cup.

4. Do you need decaf?

If you drink coffee late in the day, a quality decaf lets you enjoy the ritual without the caffeine. Plenty of people keep one of each.

5. What else matters to you?

Sustainability? Go home-compostable. Smoother, single-origin flavour? Try higher-Arabica beans. Best value? A subscription trims up to 30% off whatever you choose.

Let us answer them for you

Rather not work it out yourself? Our 60-second coffee quiz asks these five questions and instantly recommends your perfect Torrié coffee — then you can build a box in a click. Take the quiz →