Collection: Dark roast coffee

Traditional espresso coffee is the key to a perfect shot served in a small cup, often accompanied by a glass of water. Although espresso originated in Italy, it now has fans all over the world and has inspired countless variations. Over the years, roasting techniques and brewing methods have evolved, giving this classic beverage new dimensions and allowing coffee lovers to rediscover it time and again.

The beans you’ll find in our store let you prepare a truly unique cup of coffee that delights with every sip. We source them exclusively from trusted growers in countries such as Tanzania, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Costa Rica, Rwanda, and Guatemala. These plantations are often located at high altitudes – sometimes above 2,000 meters above sea level. Each pack in our offer contains carefully selected 100% Arabica beans (single origin) or signature blends crafted by our Head Roaster.

The sensory profiles of our espresso coffees are balanced yet diverse, so every coffee lover can find something that suits their taste. Some coffees reveal fruity notes, others nutty, while some carry aromas of marzipan, chocolate with hints of caramel, or even a pleasantly tea-like finish. All our beans are freshly roasted to order, ensuring that every bag you receive is full of freshness and aroma.

The best espresso coffee is made from 100% Arabica, as its flavor is complex and rich, yet much smoother than that of the more bitter and less refined Robusta. Arabica’s flavor notes are distinctly sweeter and more pleasant, while the strong, intense bitterness in espresso comes mainly from the degree of roasting, not from caffeine content. Paradoxically, the darker the roast (and the shorter the extraction time), the less caffeine the brew contains – meaning that an intense, full-bodied espresso actually has less caffeine than a light, delicate pour-over coffee.

The sensory profile of Arabica varies depending on the region where it’s grown, so each origin offers a new and intriguing taste experience. The secret behind espresso’s aroma lies in many factors: the location of the plantation, coffee variety, processing method, and the art of roasting – but just as important are the grind size and water quality used in brewing.

When it comes to espresso, the roasting profile—the degree to which coffee beans are roasted—plays a crucial role. The roast largely determines which flavor notes will dominate the cup and how the acidity, sweetness, and bitterness will balance.

• Light roast – Beans are light brown and have no oily sheen. The flavor is bright, with fruity and floral notes and a high, lively acidity. The body is light. Because of the shorter roasting time, light roasts preserve the bean’s natural characteristics (known as terroir). Lightly roasted coffee also retains slightly more caffeine than dark roasts, as less caffeine is broken down during roasting.
• Medium roast – Beans are medium brown, usually with a matte surface. This roast is the golden mean between light and dark: the flavor is balanced, with moderate acidity and increased sweetness. You’ll find caramel, nutty, and chocolate tones developed through Maillard reactions (sugar caramelization). The body becomes fuller than in light roasts but still smooth. Espresso made from medium-roasted beans offers a pleasant sweetness and chocolate-nut profile, with mild fruit notes. Many specialty roasters prefer this roast level for its harmony and versatility.
• Omniroast (universal profile) – Many modern roasteries use an omniroast approach, a middle-ground roast that works equally well for espresso and pour-over methods. The beans retain their origin character while developing enough sweetness and depth to shine across brewing techniques. For home baristas, omniroast is a safe and flexible choice that allows easy experimentation.
• Dark roast – Beans are dark brown to nearly black, often shiny with natural oils. This roast produces a strong, intense flavor and a heavy, syrupy body. Acidity is almost completely diminished due to longer roasting, resulting in a primarily bitter profile. Dark roasting also slightly reduces caffeine content through extended heat exposure.

Sensory studies show that a medium roast provides the most complex aromatic profile, which is why it’s often considered the optimal choice for a rich and well-balanced espresso.

Water is the foundation of every coffee. Its quality has a huge impact on the taste of the final espresso — even the best beans won’t show their full potential if brewed with poor-quality water. Proper water composition also matters for your equipment, as it helps prevent limescale buildup and potential damage to the espresso machine.

Overly hard water, rich in minerals such as calcium and magnesium, promotes scale formation inside the machine and negatively affects flavor — espresso can taste flat, bitter, or metallic.

On the other hand, overly soft or demineralized water (e.g., distilled or pure reverse osmosis water) isn’t ideal either. Minerals like magnesium and calcium act as flavor carriers and help extract the coffee’s aromatic compounds.

That’s why water filtration is a crucial step in espresso preparation. To achieve the best taste and protect your machine, use moderately hard water — filtered or low-mineral spring water offers the optimal balance.

On specialty coffee packaging, you’ll find a range of details about the beans — understanding them helps you make an informed choice and select the best coffee for your espresso machine. Here are the most important elements to look for:

• Country and region of origin.
  Each region of the world offers unique climate and soil conditions that influence a coffee’s flavor profile. Precise information about the country, and even the micro-region or farm, reveals the story and traditions behind the beans and helps you anticipate the flavor notes typical of that terroir.
• Altitude.
  The elevation at which coffee plants grow has a major impact on bean quality. Beans from higher altitudes (typically above 1,200 m a.s.l.) mature more slowly, resulting in a richer flavor and higher acidity. Labels often include abbreviations such as SHG/SHB (Strictly High Grown / Strictly Hard Bean, grown above ~1,500 m). High-mountain coffees are generally considered more refined.
• Botanical variety (varietal).
  Arabica exists in hundreds of different varieties, each with its own flavor characteristics. Information about the variety (e.g. Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, Geisha) provides valuable insight into the coffee’s profile. Renowned varieties such as Geisha, SL-28, or Pacamara are prized for their exceptional complexity. It’s worth remembering that “100% Arabica” alone doesn’t guarantee quality — the specific variety, cultivation, and processing methods matter just as much.
• Processing Method.
  This is the way coffee cherries are processed after harvesting to extract the beans. The most common methods are washed, natural (dry), and intermediate styles such as pulped natural / honey. The natural (dry) process enhances the bean’s sweetness and fruity notes, while the washed method creates a cleaner, crisper flavor profile. Intermediate methods like honey or anaerobic combine elements of both approaches, producing unique and complex results. The processing method has a major impact on aroma — the same raw coffee, processed in two different ways, can taste completely different.
• Harvest Date.
  The best roasters include not only the roast date but also the year or season of the green coffee harvest. Beans from the most recent crops (for example, the current season) are generally more aromatic than those stored in warehouses for several years. It’s worth checking if the label mentions the crop year or harvest season (e.g. Harvest 2024), as this ensures the coffee comes from relatively fresh harvests.

A coffee label may also include other useful details, such as the sensory profile (tasting notes), roast level, recommended brewing method, or quality certifications. The more information the producer provides, the more likely you’re looking at high-quality specialty coffee. A lack of details about origin or roast date should raise a red flag for the consumer.

The freshness of your beans is one of the key factors in brewing a perfect espresso. Right after roasting, coffee beans release a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and volatile compounds that don’t yet contribute to the desired aroma. Brewing coffee too soon after roasting can be disappointing — instead of a complex flavor bouquet, the espresso may taste sour, sharp, or grassy. This is especially important for espresso and other pressure-based brewing methods, where coffee that hasn’t had time to degas properly can hinder extraction. That’s why freshly roasted coffee should be allowed to rest for a few days before use.

How to recognize fresh coffee? Check the roast date on the package — a good roastery always includes it. Storage also plays a crucial role. After opening the package, transfer the beans into an airtight, opaque container (such as a vacuum canister or a jar with a tight seal). Keep your coffee in a cool, dry place, away from light and strong odors. Limiting exposure to air slows down the oxidation process and helps preserve the coffee’s volatile aromatic compounds — ensuring your espresso stays flavorful and aromatic for longer.

If you’re looking for the best place to buy coffee, be sure to check out JAVA Coffee Roasters. It’s not just an online store but also a renowned roastery based in Warsaw, where beans are roasted to order in professional roasting machines. Freshly roasted coffee offers a completely different level of quality — appreciated both by seasoned coffee enthusiasts and by those who previously drank industrial coffee but now want to explore the specialty segment.

In our freshly roasted coffee store, you can find beans sourced from plantations all around the world — from Brazil, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Tanzania to Peru and Congo. If you care about brewing the highest-quality espresso at home, choose our freshly roasted whole-bean coffee — aromatic, balanced, and perfectly suited for espresso machines.