Savor the Best Dark Roast Coffees of the Year [2024 Guide]

Among the many types of coffee lovers out there are those who will only drink dark roasts. Those who prefer the dark roast typically like their coffee bold, strong, and very robust in flavor. In this article, we take a look at industry’s best dark roast coffees of 2024.

As you might expect, dark roasted coffees are exposed to higher roasting temperatures than light roasts. Because of this they tend to take on a distinctly burnt or bitter flavor.

Dark roasted beans are subject to temperatures of 430-450 degrees Fahrenheit.

While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing depending on your preferences, it’s contributed to a common perception that all dark roasts are extremely harsh and lacking in refined flavor. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth is, there are plenty of full-flavored and well-balanced dark roasts out there. It’s just knowing where to look.

So without further ado, we present to you the best dark roast coffees of 2024.

Best Dark Roast Coffees [2024]

The best dark roast coffees will typically offer boldness and refined flavor in one single caffeinated package. It will also offer a controlled bitterness (or bite) that’s used more of an accent as opposed to it being a necessary evil of roasting a coffee bean for long periods of time. These are some of the criteria we used to hand-select the coffees on this list.

Lifeboost Coffee Dark Roast

Topping our list is the classically pure dark roast from Lifeboost Coffee. Their dark roast delivers an incredibly smooth but bold cup of coffee while offering the wide range of natural flavors you’d expect in the upscale world of Third Wave coffee. Their dark roast coffee is single-origin which means the entire bag is harvested from a single farm (no blends). As an added bonus, it’s also a low-acid coffee which means its perfect for those who have sensitive stomachs. Check out our full Lifeboost Coffee review for more information.

Fabula Coffee Dark Roast

Fabula Coffee produces an impressive dark roast sourced from the highlands of Peru’s Northern highlands. Smooth and rich are the best way to describe the Fabula Coffee experience. This low acid single origin coffee is grown at altitudes of 7,000 meters and hand-picked for quality. These dark roasted coffee beans offer notes of caramelized sugars, bittersweet chocolate with a smooth round finish. Their coffee is mold free, mycotoxin free, and certified organic.

Peak Performance Coffee Dark Roast

Peak Performance Coffee was formulated for coffee purists. You may have initial reservations about buying coffee from a brand that focuses on health and wellness. But we had a chance to do a Peak Performance coffee review and were blown away by the coffee’s ultra clean and robust flavor.

The company sources USDA organic and Fair Trade Certified beans from the highlands of Guatemala. Additionally, the coffee is low in acidity so its gentle on your stomach but heavy on your taste buds. There’s something special about this coffee that puts it in a league of its own.

Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend

No list of best dark roast coffees would be complete without at least featuring one of product from Peet’s Coffee. They have a wealth of dark roast flavors to choose from but few can compare to the company’s flagship Major Dickason’s roast. This powerful brew is very bold yet equally spicy and complex. That’s a rare combination especially in a dark roast. Peet’s has created a very special product in this blend with its full-bodiedness and rich flavor.

Out of the Grey Coffee

Out of the Grey Coffee (OOTG) is another one of our company favorites. We’ve sampled a number of their coffees and haven’t been disappointed yet. We recommend trying their D’Enzo blend for its a strong, full-flavored coffee that has the perfect amount of bite. OOTG coffee is 100% Organic and uses a delightful blend of Guatemalan, Kenyan AA, and Colombian coffee beans for a brew that’ll bring a smile to your taste buds.

Valler Coffee Rifleman Roast

Valler Coffee is a prime example of a true coffee gem. We actually had the chance to review this coffee recently, and it won over the dark roast lover in all of us. Like the other coffees on this list, it’s incredibly smooth while being very flavorful. In an era of artificially flavored coffees, it’s always a nice surprise to come across a coffee roaster that focuses on drawing out the natural flavor of the coffee bean. Dark roast coffees are rarely ever described as bright. However, the Rifleman’s Roast is just that offering very balanced notes of sweetness. This became an instant favorite of mine the very first time I drank it.

Illy Coffee Intenso Dark Roast

Illy is credited as inventing the modern day espresso. So it should come to no surprise that their Intenso dark roasted coffee makes this list of top dark roast brews. This coffee is as bold and accented with pleasant notes of cocoa and dried fruit. One of the reasons this coffee makes this list is because it offers more than just a strong coffee. Like it’s name suggests, it delivers a very intense flavor that’s worthy of being in illy’s esteemed line up.

Things to Consider When Buying Dark Roasts

Bean Type

One of the main factors to consider when buying dark roast coffee is the bean’s geographic origin. Not at all coffee beans are created equal and some beans are better suited to being dark roasted. Without getting two nerdy, consider the following examples. Beans from Indonesia and Africa tend to be denser and more resilient, which makes them perfect for dark roasting. On the other hand, beans from Central and South America are usually lighter and more delicate, which means they may not hold up as well during the roasting process.

Roast Level

Another consideration is the roast level. Dark roast coffee can range from a medium-dark roast to an almost black, French roast. Each level of roast has a unique flavor profile and can affect the body and acidity of the coffee. Some people prefer a lighter dark roast for a more balanced cup, while others enjoy a deep, bold flavor that can only be achieved with a French roast. It’s best to figure out what works best with your flavor profile. Dark roasts will typically be lower in acid compared to lighter roasts.

Note: If you have a sensitive stomach and are looking for low acid coffee or non acidic coffee, check out our full list.

Roast Date

When buying the best dark roast coffee, it’s important to pay attention to the roast date. Sure, the roast date is important when buying coffee roasted at any level. However, dark roast coffee has a shorter shelf life than lighter roasts. The dark roasting process rapidly brings the coffee’s natural oils to the surface of the bean. These oils over time translate into an unwanted bitter taste. So while all roasted coffees are subject to this phenomenon, dark roasted coffees bring the oils out faster than light and medium roasted coffees.

The Best Dark Roast Coffees: Final Thoughts

As evidenced by the coffees mentioned above, dark roasted coffees can still offer a very refined coffee experience….with a kick.

Dark roast coffee has a distinctive flavor that sets it apart from its lighter counterparts. The rich, smoky taste of a well-roasted bean can be a real treat for coffee lovers, especially those who appreciate a strong brew.

This list of great-tasting dark coffees will be constantly updated. If there are any coffee snobs out there who’d like to make any recommendations, please feel free to comment below. We’d love to hear from you!

If you’re a fan of medium roast coffee, check out our full selection.