Who Supplies Cracker Barrel’s Coffee?

Quick answer

• Cracker Barrel’s coffee is primarily supplied by Community Coffee.
• They’ve partnered with Community Coffee for many years.
• You can buy Cracker Barrel’s blend directly from Community Coffee.
• The coffee is a medium roast, designed to be smooth and flavorful.
• It’s brewed fresh throughout the day at all Cracker Barrel locations.
• If you like their coffee, you can replicate it at home with their blend.

The coffee is a medium roast, designed to be smooth and flavorful. If you like their coffee, you can replicate it at home with their blend, which offers a wonderfully smooth and flavorful experience.

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Who this is for

• Anyone who enjoys the coffee at Cracker Barrel and wants to know its origin.
• Home brewers looking for a specific, familiar coffee flavor profile.
• People who want to buy the same coffee blend they serve in the restaurant.

What to check first

Brewer type and filter type

Most folks at home use drip coffee makers. That’s what Cracker Barrel likely uses, a commercial-grade version. If you’re using a pour-over, French press, or AeroPress, the grind size and brew time will be different. The filter type matters too. Paper filters catch more oils, leading to a cleaner cup. Metal filters let more oils through, giving a richer mouthfeel.

Water quality and temperature

This is huge. Bad water makes bad coffee, plain and simple. If your tap water tastes funky, your coffee will too. Consider a simple water filter pitcher. For brewing, aim for water between 195°F and 205°F. Too hot, and you’ll scorch the grounds. Too cool, and you won’t extract enough flavor. Most auto-drip machines handle this for you, but it’s good to know.

Grind size and coffee freshness

Freshly ground coffee is king. Pre-ground stuff loses its aroma and flavor fast. For drip makers, a medium grind is usually best – think table salt consistency. Too fine, and it clogs the filter, leading to over-extraction and bitterness. Too coarse, and the water runs through too fast, giving you weak, sour coffee. Buy whole beans and grind them right before brewing.

Coffee-to-water ratio

This is how you balance strength. A good starting point for drip coffee is about 1:15 to 1:18. That means for every gram of coffee, use 15 to 18 grams of water. For us using ounces and cups, it’s roughly 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 oz of water. Adjust this to your taste. Too much coffee, and it’s too strong. Too little, and it’s watery.

Cleanliness/descale status

Nobody likes drinking old coffee residue. If your brewer hasn’t been cleaned in a while, it’s probably harboring gunk. This affects taste big time. Descaling removes mineral buildup, especially important if you have hard water. Follow your brewer’s manual for cleaning and descaling frequency. It’s usually a simple process.

Step-by-step (brew workflow)

1. Gather your gear. You’ll need your coffee maker, fresh whole beans, a grinder, filtered water, and a mug.

• What “good” looks like: Everything is clean and ready to go. No stale grounds hanging around.
• Common mistake: Grabbing old, stale beans. Always check the roast date.

2. Measure your water. Use fresh, filtered water. For a standard 10-cup pot, you’ll need about 50 oz of water.

• What “good” looks like: The water reservoir is filled to the desired mark.
• Common mistake: Using water that’s been sitting in the reservoir for days. Fresh water equals fresh taste.

3. Grind your coffee beans. For drip, aim for a medium grind. Measure your beans before grinding. A good starting point is about 60 grams of coffee for 1 liter (34 oz) of water.

• What “good” looks like: Uniformly ground coffee, not too fine or too coarse.
• Common mistake: Grinding too fine, which can lead to bitter coffee and slow brewing.

4. Insert the filter. If using a paper filter, rinse it with hot water first. This removes any papery taste and preheats the brew basket.

• What “good” looks like: The filter sits snugly in the basket.
• Common mistake: Forgetting to rinse the paper filter, which can impart a papery flavor.

5. Add the ground coffee. Put the grounds into the prepared filter. Gently shake the basket to level the coffee bed.

• What “good” looks like: An even layer of coffee grounds.
• Common mistake: Not leveling the grounds, which can cause uneven water flow and extraction.

6. Start the brew cycle. Turn on your coffee maker.

• What “good” looks like: The machine starts heating water and dripping it over the grounds.
• Common mistake: Forgetting to turn it on! Happens to the best of us after a long day.

7. Observe the bloom. In the first 30 seconds or so, the coffee grounds should puff up and release CO2. This is called the bloom.

• What “good” looks like: The grounds expand and bubble.
• Common mistake: Machines that don’t allow for a pre-infusion or bloom phase can lead to less optimal extraction.

8. Let it brew completely. Allow the machine to finish its cycle. Don’t pull the pot out early.

• What “good” looks like: The brewing stops, and the carafe is full.
• Common mistake: Stopping the brew early to get that “first cup” when the coffee isn’t fully extracted yet.

9. Serve immediately. Pour your coffee into a pre-warmed mug.

• What “good” looks like: Aromatic, hot coffee filling your mug.
• Common mistake: Letting coffee sit on a hot plate for too long, which burns it and makes it taste bitter.

10. Clean up. Discard the grounds and rinse your brew basket and carafe.

• What “good” looks like: A clean coffee station, ready for the next brew.
• Common mistake: Leaving grounds in the filter, which can get moldy and affect future brews.

Common mistakes (and what happens if you ignore them)

Decision rules (simple if/then)

• If your coffee tastes bitter, then try a coarser grind because it will extract less flavor.
• If your coffee tastes weak and sour, then try a finer grind because it will extract more flavor.
• If your coffee tastes bitter, then try using less coffee because you might be over-extracting.
• If your coffee tastes weak, then try using more coffee because you’re likely under-extracting.
• If your coffee tastes off, then check your water quality because bad water ruins good beans.
• If your coffee tastes burnt, then check your water temperature because it might be too high.
• If your coffee tastes muddy, then check your grind size because it might be too fine.
• If your coffee tastes like old pennies, then clean your coffee maker because mineral buildup is likely the culprit.
• If you want a cleaner cup, then use a paper filter because it traps more oils.
• If you want a richer cup, then consider a metal filter because it lets more oils through.
• If your coffee is brewing too slowly, then your grind is likely too fine or your filter is clogged.
• If your coffee is brewing too fast, then your grind is likely too coarse.

FAQ

Is Cracker Barrel’s coffee always the same?

Yes, Cracker Barrel has a long-standing partnership with Community Coffee to supply their house blend. This ensures a consistent flavor profile across all their locations.

Where can I buy Cracker Barrel’s coffee blend?

You can buy the exact blend served at Cracker Barrel directly from Community Coffee’s website. They offer it in various sizes and formats.

What kind of roast is Cracker Barrel’s coffee?

It’s typically a medium roast. This means it’s roasted long enough to develop flavor but not so long that it becomes dark and bitter. It’s designed to be smooth and approachable.

Can I make Cracker Barrel’s coffee at home?

Absolutely. If you enjoy their coffee, you can purchase the Community Coffee blend they use and brew it yourself using your preferred method.

Does Cracker Barrel use flavored coffee?

The primary coffee served is their signature blend. While they might offer seasonal specials or iced coffee variations, the standard hot coffee is their unflavored medium roast.

Is Community Coffee a good brand?

Community Coffee is a well-respected, family-owned coffee company with a long history. They are known for quality beans and consistent roasting.

What if my home-brewed coffee doesn’t taste like Cracker Barrel’s?

Several factors could be at play: your water quality, grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, or even the freshness of your beans. Refer to the “What to check first” and “Step-by-step” sections.

How do I get the best flavor from my coffee beans?

Always start with fresh, whole beans, grind them just before brewing, use filtered water, and get your coffee-to-water ratio dialed in.

What this page does NOT cover (and where to go next)

• Specific commercial brewing equipment used by Cracker Barrel. (Next: Research commercial coffee brewers.)
• Detailed nutritional information or caffeine content per cup. (Next: Check coffee packaging or manufacturer websites.)
• The history of Community Coffee beyond its partnership with Cracker Barrel. (Next: Explore coffee company histories.)
• Advanced brewing techniques like siphon or cold brew. (Next: Look into specialized brewing guides.)