Reading Coffee Company Dark Sumatra Review
How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! In this Reading Coffee Company Dark Sumatra Review, I’m taking a closer look at one of the roaster’s darker offerings to see how it performs across different brewing methods. I’ll break down the flavor notes and compare it in a French Press and a Pour-over. If you enjoy coffee-forward dark roasts with smoky notes and bold chocolate flavors, this review should help you decide if Dark Sumatra deserves a spot in your rotation.
The Roaster
Reading Coffee Company was founded in 1989 by Albert VanMaanen with the goal of bringing high-quality, skillfully roasted coffee to the area. Today, the company continues to honor his legacy through a commitment to quality, ethically traded coffee, and earth-friendly sustainability.
I actually came across this coffee in a different way than most of the coffees I review. My neighbor handed me a bag after trying it himself and described it as tasting “like the bottom of an ashtray.” This isn’t the first time he has unintentionally contributed to the blog. Previously he gave me a bag of Running Pump Roasting’s Colombia Blend and described it as completely flavorless. After brewing and reviewing it myself, I discovered he was pretty much right. You can read my full Running Pump Roasting Colombia Blend review here.
That previous experience gave his latest assessment a little more credibility. Coffee opinions can vary wildly, especially with darker roasts. Smoky notes can add character or completely overwhelm the drinker. Still, after hearing the ashtray comparison, I figured there was only one thing left to do: brew it and see where Dark Sumatra landed.
When rating coffee I follow the same method of brewing each time. Find out about how I prepare French Press coffee here.
Reading Coffee Company Dark Sumatra Review
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Grinding Dark Sumatra released a rich earthy fragrance with subtle roasty undertones and a very slight touch of sweet dark chocolate.
| Dark Sumatra | French Press | Pour-Over |
| Aroma | Slightly sweet with dark smoky notes | Roasty with subtle molasses-like sweetness |
| Body | Medium-full body with lighter mouthfeel than expected | Medium body |
| Start | Very coffee forward with strong roasty notes | Coffee forward and roasty |
| Middle | Earthy with a mild sweetness | Strong bitterness that was very off-putting |
| Finish | Bitter baker’s chocolate with smoky undertones | Bitterness remains with slight sweetness and a smoky aftertaste |
Overall Thoughts
Overall, this was a decent dark roast coffee. The flavor profile was exactly what you would expect: coffee forward, dark chocolatey, and smoky with only a subtle sweetness underneath. This wasn’t especially complex, but the mild earthiness gave it more character than a standard dark roast.
- French Press: Coffee forward and dark chocolate. It tasted about how you’d expect a dark roast to taste, with a subtle earthiness underneath. Not abundantly smooth, but drinkable.
- Pour-over: Terrible in a pour-over, very harsh bitterness. Difficult to drink.
- Preferred brew method: French Press
Dark roast drinkers will likely find enough to enjoy here. The French Press produced a decent cup with a touch of earthiness for a bit of complexity. The pour-over was downright terrible and I can’t imagine anyone who would enjoy it.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase Dark Sumatra directly from Reading Coffee Company or through select local retailers if you are in the area. At $20 for a 12 oz bag (about $26.67 per pound), this feels expensive, especially for a non-organic coffee.
If you enjoy traditional dark roasts with earthy and smoky characteristics, Dark Sumatra falls comfortably into that category. If you’re looking for a more flavorful, but smoky dark roast Cleona Coffee Roasters Nomads is a better option if you use a French Press. For a more complex and absolutely delicious dark roast Sacred Cups Aponte Inga Dark Roast is a standout coffee with great tasting notes.
Conclusion – Reading Coffee Company Dark Sumatra Review
Overall, Dark Sumatra delivered a pretty classic dark roast experience. The smoky and chocolatey characteristics were exactly what I expected after seeing the beans and brewing the first cup. It is not a very exciting coffee, but my French Press produced a relatively drinkable, but unremarkable cup. The Pour-over brought out too much bitterness. This created a cup of coffee I had a hard time finishing.
While the French Press didn’t taste like an ashtray, one cup from the Pour-over had me wondering if my neighbor was right after all.
Reading Coffee Company Dark Sumatra Scorecard
| Feature | Details |
| Roast | Dark Roast |
| Flavor Notes | Coffee forward, smoky, baker’s chocolate |
| Best Brew Method | French Press |
| Overall Rating | 3/10 |
| Worth Buying? | No, for the price there are far better dark roasts available. |
| Buy Now | Reading Coffee Company |
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