Starbucks Dark Roast Review [+Tips For Finest Taste]

Starbucks goes out of its way to make delicious dark roast coffee beans for its consumers. Usually, the dark roast kind of coffee bean is a rich source of caffeine with excellent brain benefits.

Starbucks has made its mark across the globe and it continues to impress coffee lovers. To have the whole Starbucks experience, you can now easily make your coffee from home.

The coffee has rich flavors to satisfy your cravings. Even then choosing the right Starbucks coffee blend can be challenging since the choices are endless.

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However, you might be unaware of the best Starbucks dark roast coffee as many exist in the market. Below is everything you need to know about Starbucks Dark Roast Coffee. 

Differences Between Starbucks Dark Roast Coffee and Light Roast Coffee

The roast of your Starbucks coffee beans depends on how long it stays in the roaster and the temperature used.

Starbucks makes its coffee as a super dark roast compared to other businesses in the coffee market. The difference is that the light roast portrays a super bright fruity color and flavor.

On the other hand, the dark roast brings a smoky flavor. Due to the intense roasting subjected to the dark roast, the coffee seems to lose its unique qualities.

There’s a slight difference between the amount of caffeine in the dark roast and the light roast. Caffeine burns off at higher temperatures than even dark roast coffee.

So, as you roast the dark roast coffee, the bean starts to expand. On the other hand, the light roast doesn’t need too much temperature, so it never expands.

This means that a scoop of dark roast coffee contains less caffeine content than a scoop of light roast coffee.

For a lighter roast coffee, their size is small meaning the caffeine content is a bit higher in light roast than in dark roast.

Why Choose Starbucks Dark Roast Coffee?

Starbucks works hard to give you quality coffee that you can always enjoy. The company seeks to do this by sourcing the best coffee beans around the world.

Though Starbucks uses Arabica beans, these beans differ from regular Arabica beans. The beans are strictly tested to meet the quality standards that the company sets.

Starbucks chooses denser beans as they contain more intense flavors. As a result, you can enjoy all the undertones that your coffee contains.

Finally, Starbucks dark roast coffee is the best as a batch of coffee has to go through at least three tasting tests before it’s approved.

Features To Look Out For Before Buying Coffee Beans

Bean type

Arabica bean type is the top selection when it comes to bean type choice in Starbucks. It offers a wide range of benefits including being less acidic and more flavorful.

Usually, high-quality Arabica coffee contains sweet flavors alongside nuts, chocolate, and caramel undertones. You’ll also experience hints of berries and fruits, which extend the flavor further.

In addition, Arabica beans contain antioxidants such as Vitamin E which lower the risk of infections and diseases.

Traces of magnesium, Potassium and Vitamin B in Arabica coffee also keep your health in check.

The roast

Roasting is the process by which green coffee beans are transformed into coffee beans that are ready to grind.

Like other brands, Starbucks groups the roasts into different categories, including the blonde roast, medium roast, and dark roast.

• Blonde roast: Starbucks’ blonde roast has a full body and it’s mellow. However, this kind of roast is still flavorful.
• Medium roast: Here, the medium roast delivers a smooth and balanced coffee that contains distinct aromatics.
• Dark roast: These beans are richer and darker and caramelization notes enhance their flavors. Starbucks’ dark roasts are full-bodied and bold, thus offering intense flavors.

Tasting notes

Starbucks goes out of its way to offer coffee beans that give unique tasting notes. Some of this coffee has cocoa, caramel, herbal, and earthy flavors.

Therefore only choose the one that suits you best. For instance, you can go for the Starbucks Caffe Verona Dark Roast to enjoy the delicious notes of dark cocoa.

On the other hand, the Starbucks Komodo Blend offers you earthy or herbal notes. You can also enjoy caramelly sweet notes from the Starbucks Espresso Roast.

Origin

The coffee’s origin determines its flavor and uniqueness. Starbucks gets its coffee beans from reliable and ethical sources, with most of it as 100% Arabica.

By combining coffee from Latin America, Asian, and African origins, you can be sure of rich quality coffee.

Each growing region delivers certain characteristics of coffee with Sumatran coffee giving earthy notes. Colombian coffee, on the other hand, offers floral and fruity notes in its coffee.

Homemade Dark Roast Iced Coffee

Here are several recipes you can try while making homemade dark roast Starbucks dark roast iced coffee;

Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

This Starbucks dark roast iced coffee is made with vanilla-flavored cold brew coffee. Its taste is enhanced with vanilla sweet cream.  You’ll need only 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of your time to prepare it.

Starbucks Iced Mocha

This Starbucks coffee roast type is made with espresso, mocha sauce, milk, and sauce. It’s then topped with whipped cream. Mocha is a chocolate-flavored latte with chocolate, espresso, and milk as its ingredients.

Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato

This espresso drink features cold milk, ice, and caramel drizzle on top. Usually, this drink is made with vanilla syrup and milk on the bottom.

Then later shots of espresso and sit on the milk and ice, then a drizzle of caramel is added. The uniqueness of the caramel iced coffee lies in the milk at the bottom and the espresso on top.

Starbucks Blonde Iced Vanilla Latte

This cold coffee drink comprises Iced Vanilla Lattes and blonde espresso rather than regular espresso. You’ll use 4 ingredients to make it: ice, blonde espresso, vanilla syrup, and 2 percent milk.

Remember, you can use homemade vanilla syrup along with Starbucks blond espresso roast coffee. The recipe gives you 16 ounces of Starbucks Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte.

Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino 

This Starbucks frozen drink is made with ice, whole milk, instant coffee, and a Frappuccino base syrup.

The Frappuccinos are popular for turning this drink into a smooth texture. The recipe makes 16 ounces of this drink.

Types of Starbucks Dark Roast Coffee

Each Starbucks Dark Roast has unique features that make it stand out from the crowd. If you want to determine which is best for you according to your preferences, keep reading to learn more.

Below is a review of each Starbucks Dark Roast coffee.

1. Starbucks coffee Christmas blend coffee

Starbucks Christmas blend coffee is a dark roast with refined and spicy tasting notes making it perfect for the holidays.

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This blend is not just any coffee, meaning you’ll get great quality coffee. What’s more, the coffee is made from 100% Arabica coffee beans.

You can choose between Starbucks dark roast ground coffee or whole beans Christmas Blend coffee. Starbucks brings you dark roast coffee that features rare aged Sumatra.

2. Starbucks French Roast Coffee

This coffee bean originating from Asia Pacific regions and Latin America regions makes delicious coffee.

You’ll enjoy the super smoky flavor of the Starbucks coffee French roast coffee as the bean is roasted to a higher degree. Consequently, the bean makes a coffee drink that’s not too acidic.

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Apart from the bold taste, you’ll enjoy the sweet aroma of these oily coffee beans. Ensure that your coffee-making machine is clean before making preparations.

Also, Starbucks French Roast coffee doesn’t feature any bitterness. French Roast features traditional practices and the French press brewing method.

In addition, this coffee is roasted through the French press preparation method. Starbucks French Roast coffee comes with a rich flavor featuring caramel notes and a roasty taste.

For best results, you need to prepare French roast coffee using drip machines and French presses. This is because the complex taste will be interfered with if a quick extraction method such as espresso is used.

Special features

●     Extremely dark roast

●     Sweet aroma

●     It’s not bitter

●     Less acidic

●     Bold and smoky

3. Starbucks Italian Roast Coffee

Italian roasts are particularly prepared for espresso and should be strictly sourced from the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America.

Italian roast coffee from Starbucks brings out the pleasant qualities of coffee and they do perfectly in any preparation.

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With this brand, expect a dark roast and rich coffee flavor with notes of chocolate. Italian roast is a perfect choice if you want something bold in the morning.

If you like your coffee roasted and sweet, then this is your choice. Italian roast coffee preserves all the tastiness and intensity thanks to the precision in the preparation.

Compared to Espresso roast, this flavor is darker and doesn’t contain the smokiness found in Starbucks’ French roast.

Starbucks Italian Roast is your choice since it retains a bold and sweet flavor that remains even when milk, sugar, and cream are added. The notes of caramelized sugar intensify the flavor in this coffee.

Outstanding features

●     Bold flavor

●     Intense sweetness obtained from the caramel notes

●     Flavor retention even after you add milk and sugar.

4. Starbucks Dark Roast Ground Coffee — Espresso Roast

Starbucks Espresso Roast is an ideal coffee for consumers as it offers a wide range of benefits. This coffee gives you a rich and caramel flavor that pairs perfectly with milk or cream. You’ll love it as Starbucks uses it in almost all its espressos.

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Fortunately, the Espresso Roast gives you the freedom to use it for making any other coffee apart from an espresso.

Therefore, you can use this type of dark roast in a drip machine, pour-over, or French press. Through the specially combined blend of beans, the Starbucks dark roast Espresso roast preserves the oil content.

As a result, the espresso shot comes with a delicious crema that adds flavor to your coffee. Created in 1975, the espresso roast delivers sweetness and a delicious texture you’ll most likely love.

Furthermore, the coffee originates from Latin America, India and Asia-Pacific regions, furthermore, Central Africa regions, which tells you it’s a quality choice.

If you’re looking for Starbucks’ darkest roast, this is your choice. Since it’s full-bodied, you can be sure to get a rich flavored drinking Starbucks k cup dark roast that combines perfectly with pastries. As a result, you’ll have fun drinking it every morning as an energizer.

Choose this option for your espresso at home or even for a bold coffee anywhere you wish. Furthermore, you can enjoy the caramel and spicy notes that this option features.

Starbucks Espresso dark roast ground coffee is perfect when blended with steamed milk and when brewed as a coffee.

Special features

●     Robust taste

●     Intense caramel flavor

●     Blends well with milk and cream

●     Contains sweet distinct undertones

5. Starbucks Komodo Dragon – Best Herbal Dark Roast Coffee

Starbucks Komodo Dragon coffee beans qualify as one of the best herbal dark roast coffee from Starbucks. The 10% Arabica beans that make this coffee deliver an aroma of pure coffee you can’t resist.

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By using coffee beans from Indonesia, this kind of coffee gives you coffee with unique tastes. Also, this product takes the boldness and full body that Starbucks coffee has. This means that you’ll enjoy notes of cedary spice, herbs, and earthy aroma.

This coffee blends herbal notes that make you feel refreshed every time you take a sip. Furthermore, the oily beans from Indonesia make this coffee perfect for crafting any type of espresso.

Outstanding features

●     Made from ethically sourced 100% Arabica beans

●     Bold and full-bodied combination

●     Contains unique and earthy notes

●     Ideal for making espresso

6. Starbucks Morning Joe

This Dark Roast Morning Joe coffee from Starbucks traces its origin from Latin America and Asia-Pacific. The coffee is made with ethically sourced 100% Arabica beans which make it extra delicious.

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Formerly, the coffee was named after a Chicago neighborhood, known as Starbucks Gold Coast Blend. However, the company later changed to Morning Joe, the name it retains to date.

The Starbucks Morning Joe is a dark roast coffee that’s bold and full-bodied to rejuvenate you. As its name suggests, this coffee is the perfect start to your day. It’s a perfect choice if you’re looking for something strong and sweet.

Special features

●     Sweet and caramel flavors

●     Captivating aroma

●     Bold flavor

●     Crafted using 100% Arabica beans

Since this is one of the best roasts from Starbucks, you can expect unique flavors and tastes. The Morning Joe features sweet notes and rich flavors you can’t resist.

The caramel undertones blended with the dark roast hint bring out even richer flavors.

Key Takeaway

Starbucks Dark Roast coffee is darker, bolder, and richer in flavor. Should you be thinking about choosing the best, the above details will help you make a choice.

Keep in mind that the company sources its coffee beans from ethical origins to ensure you have high-quality Starbucks coffee. Therefore, you can rest assured of tasty dark roast coffee from Starbucks all the time.