Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Review
How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! In this Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Review, I’m taking a closer look at a coffee known for its high caffeine content and bold reputation to see if it delivers more than just a powerful kick. I’ll break down the flavor notes, aroma, and overall drinking experience while testing it across both French Press and pour-over brewing methods. If you enjoy strong coffee with rich chocolate flavors and a surprising amount of fruity sweetness, this may be the coffee for you.
The Roaster
Death Wish Coffee was founded by Mike Brown in 2012 in Saratoga Springs, New York. Death Wish Coffee built its reputation by doing something that was relatively uncommon in the specialty coffee space: embracing Robusta beans as a way to dramatically increase caffeine content while still creating a coffee people would actually enjoy drinking.
The company set out to create what it marketed as one of the strongest coffees in the world. Instead of relying solely on Arabica beans, Death Wish incorporated Robusta, a coffee species known for its higher caffeine content and more intense flavor profile, into its blends. At the time, Robusta was often associated with lower-quality coffee, and Death Wish helped challenge that perception by focusing on better sourcing and roasting techniques to create a strong cup without sacrificing drinkability.
Death Wish set out to prove that a high-caffeine coffee could combine strength and flavor in the same cup. Of course, caffeine alone does not make a great coffee. A memorable cup still needs balance, complexity, and flavors that make you want to come back. With that in mind, I wanted to see if Death Wish Coffee’s Dark Roast could deliver the flavor to match its legendary strength.
When rating coffee I follow the same method of brewing each time. Learn how I prepare French Press coffee here.
Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Review
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Grinding Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast released a powerful cherry fragrance with sweet and fruity notes immediately coming forward.
| Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast | French Press | Pour-Over |
| Aroma | Rich chocolate with a great balance of cacao and sweetness | Sugary with subtle fruity notes |
| Body | Medium-full body with a rich mouthfeel | Medium body, slightly lighter than the French Press but still noticeable |
| Start | Coffee forward with subtle sweetness | Dark chocolate focused with smooth cacao notes |
| Middle | Rich cherry notes. Distinctly sweet and fruity | Slightly sweeter chocolatey middle, not quite milk chocolate but more balance of cacao and sweetness |
| Finish | Semisweet chocolate with lingering cherry undertones | Sweet dark cherry finish with lingering dark chocolate |
Overall Thoughts
Overall, this was an excellent dark roast with a surprisingly fruity character. Death Wish Coffee’s Dark Roast delivers a bold coffee experience while still bringing a sweetness and complexity that many dark roasts lack. The cherry notes were outstanding, especially in the French Press, where the fruity sweetness became incredibly rich and enjoyable. Overall, this was an excellent dark roast with a surprisingly fruity character. Death Wish Coffee’s Dark Roast delivers a bold coffee experience while still bringing a sweetness and complexity that many dark roasts lack. The cherry notes were outstanding, especially in the French Press, where the fruity sweetness became incredibly rich and enjoyable.
Had I tried this coffee sooner it would have even a contender for my 5 Best Dark Roast Coffees to Try In 2026 post for sure.
- French Press: The coffee was bold, sweet, and packed with incredible cherry flavor. The combination of rich chocolate and bright fruitiness created a cup that was far more interesting than I expected from a dark roast.
- Pour-over: Still a very good cup, but the cherry notes were much more reserved. The chocolate and cacao flavors became the focus, creating a smoother dark roast experience with a subtle fruity finish.
- Preferred brew method: French Press
Each brew method created a smooth and easy to drink cup. I preferred the bold fruity notes the French Press brought to the chocolate-forward pour-over, which did have cherry undertones. If you enjoy a fruity coffee with great chocolate notes, this is the brew for you.
Similar to Sacred Cups Aponte Inga Dark Roast this is a great coffee with a bit of complexity for a dark roast. If you prefer a more traditional dark roast you may enjoy Terra Lava’s Costa Rican Dark Roast more.
Where to Purchase
Death Wish Coffee Dark roast is available on Amazon at a price point of $17.48 per pound or the Death Wish website for $19.99 for the same size.It’s also commonly found at most major retailers, making it widely accessible for a specialty-style coffee.
For a high-quality organic coffee with the added benefit of extra caffeine, this sits at a very fair price point. I purchased this bag on Amazon and it tasted fresh, so I would personally recommend going that route for the slightly lower price and the benefit of free shipping.
Conclusion – Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Review
Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast completely exceeded my expectations. I expected a strong, bold dark roast, but I did not expect the incredible cherry sweetness that came through in the French Press. The balance between rich chocolate, cacao, and sweet cherry notes makes this an exceptional dark roast. The pour-over produced a good cup, but the French Press transformed it into something special.
If you enjoy dark roasts with a bold coffee presence but still want sweetness and complexity, this is an easy recommendation. The French Press version was one of the more enjoyable dark roast cups I’ve had recently. I look forward to trying more from Death Wish in the near future.
Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Scorecard
| Feature | Details |
| Roast | Dark Roast |
| Flavor Notes | Dark chocolate, cacao, sweet cherry |
| Best Brew Method | French Press |
| Overall Rating | 9/10 |
| Worth Buying? | Yes, especially if you enjoy bold dark roasts with a sweet fruity twist. |
| Buy Now | Amazon | Death Wish Coffee |
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