Café Bustelo vs Folgers: Which Coffee Brand Is Better?

We here at Coffeeuniversum love high-end coffees, but sometimes budget dictates cutbacks. With so many brands on the market, it can be hard to decide which budget brand of coffee is the best for you. Café Bustelo and Folgers are two of the more popular grocery store coffee brands out there, but which one should you choose?

Café Bustelo and Folgers have both been providing consistent coffee experiences for their consumers for over a century. From their unique, distinct flavors to their commitment to quality, both brands have established themselves as trusted coffee names in the market. Both are some of the least expensive coffees on the market, so it wouldn’t be fair to compare them with higher-end roasts, but how do they compare to each other? Read on for an in-depth comparison of Café Bustelo vs Folgers, so you can enjoy the perfect cup of coffee every morning.

Café Bustelo History

Café Bustelo was founded in The Bronx, New York by a Spaniard named Gregorio Menendez Bustelo, who emigrated to the States via Cuba. When he first arrived, coffee in the US was traditionally filtered through special coffee socks – but Café Bustelo quickly became popular with Cuban Americans who preferred espresso coffee machines. By the 1990s and 2000s, before the explosion of coffee micro roasts, it had become a hip and trendy brand of coffee, loved by coffee connoisseurs and everyday coffee drinkers alike. Today, Café Bustelo continues to be a leader in quality coffee, providing customers with an authentic Cuban-style coffee experience.

Folgers History

Founded in the 1850s, Folgers is one of the oldest and most beloved coffee brands in the United States. It all started when James Athearn Folger, a carpenter from San Francisco, California, built a coffee mill in the city, and he took sample coffees with him while he went to gold mines during the California Gold Rush. To this day, Folgers remains a popular choice for coffee drinkers all across the country, thanks to its rich flavor and strong aroma. Folgers surprisingly still accounts for 25% of the ground coffee sold in the US.

Café Bustelo vs Folgers – Side by Side

Let’s take a quick look at the different types of Café Bustelo and Folgers coffee in the comparison chart below.

Differences Between Café Bustelo and Folgers Coffee

The two brands have capsules, ground coffee, and coffee beans, as well as some specialty coffees.

Coffee Capsules

Many people use a Keurig to streamline their coffee-making in the morning; with both brands, you can enjoy the convenience of Keurig K-Cups, providing an easy and delicious way to make your favorite coffee anytime, anywhere. Cafe Bustelo also offers Nespresso original pods, which I think makes an even better-tasting option.

Café Bustelo

You can choose from Café con Leche, Café con Chocolate, Espresso, and Café Bustelo Espresso Dark. There is also a K-Cup capsule for Columbia and Brazil. There is a bonus with Café Bustelo also has its own Espresso capsule that is compatible with the Nespresso Original machines.

Folgers

Although there are only K-Cup capsules, there is a greater choice. You can try the Classic Roast, Black Silk, Morning Café, Breakfast Brand, Columbian, Lively Colombian, and Vanilla Biscotti. It’s great that there is also the option of a 100% Decaffeinated Columbian capsule.

Specialty Coffees

Specialty coffees could be a more acquired taste for some, but it is always nice to have a variety of options to suit ever person’s tastes.

Café Bustelo

While Café Bustelo does have multiple roasts with a wide range of intensities, however, they have fewer specialty flavors. There are Café con Leche, Café con Chocolate, and Café con Dulce de Leche.

Folgers

Folgers has a range of choices, although most people are just familiar with the quintessential red container. They have more specialty roasts, such as 1859, and you can also try Cappuccino French Vanilla, Cappuccino Mocha Chocolate, hazelnut, Vanilla Biscotti, and Caramel Drizzle. Folgers also offers caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee bags.

Ground Coffee

For a quick hot coffee brew any time of the day, both brands have ground coffee coming in different-sized containers.

Café Bustelo

First, there is the Espresso Dark Roast and Supreme Style Dark Roast. There are also a few freeze-dried instant coffees, including Mexican and Café con Leche.

Folgers

Here we have a Classic Roast Columbian, French Roast, Black Silk, and Simply Smooth coffee grind. For the real coffee lover, there is the Noir True Dark Roast, The Noir Golden Dusk, and the Noir Smoky Midnight.

Whole Coffee Beans

The fresh coffee beans are quite similar.

Café Bustelo

You can grind your own fresh coffee with the Supreme Style Dark Roast.

Folgers

There is an 1850 Black Gold Dark Roast.

Decaffeinated Coffee

Aside from the decaffeinated capsules, both have ground coffee options.

Café Bustelo

There is only an Espresso Style Decaffeinated coffee.

Folgers

Apart from the Classic Decaf, there is a hazelnut decaf.

Alternatives to both Folgers and Café Bustelo

If you’re reading this because you are trying to cut down on your coffee budget, you might also want to check out Maxwell House, Nescafé Gold, Café Pilon, and Café La Llave.