Not so much stuck between extremes as offering the best of both, Milk Wood was not only the first blend we roasted but the concept around which Dark Woods was built. A medium roast delivers familiar caramel sweetness but adventurous sourcing takes it beyond the perceived limits of this style. Validation of our approach arrived in 2016 when Milk Wood won a prestigious Golden Fork for best Northern Product in the Great Taste Awards.

Blend details:

Farm: Fazenda Passeio, Monte Belo, Sul de Minas, Brazil
Process: Natural
Variety: Bourbon, Catuai & Icatu arabica. “Dark Woods Woodman recipe” overseen by Adolfo Vieira

Farm: Kalledevarapura Estate, Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India
Process: washed
Variety: S795 & SN9 arabica
DM Purnesh & DM Shankar

Farm: Ethiopia Aricha, Idido, Yirgacheffe
Process: washed
Variety: Mixed heirloom arabica
Smallholder producers of the Aricha washing station.

Under Milk Wood

Nestling in the West Yorkshire Pennines, we are surrounded by dramatic moorland, dry-stone walls and ancient woods. We see reminders of the area's heritage, shaped by the Industrial Revolution; from the 18th Century canal locks to the remnants of old mills and weirs. It was this that gave birth to our river-side Victorian textile mill, where we roast our coffee on a vintage Probat drum roaster.

Dark Woods use specialty grade coffees, which have cleaner more distinctive flavours than cheaper commercial coffees and are traceable to skilled farmers and their farms across the world. Carefully roasted to produce an array of flavours to suit a wide range of styles and tastes - which may be why Dark Woods gained another 13 awards in 2020's Great Taste Awards.

Darkwoods Coffee

Dark yet bright, Crow Tree is a rarity amongst speciality coffees. Top quality, high altitude Arabicas are more commonly left light but we felt that this only tells half their story. By using the cleanest available green coffee we are able to roast darker to develop bold yet defined flavours that match those found in the very best single estate chocolate.

Crow Tree utilises coffees sourced from farms closely involved with the Café Femenino Project. This ground-breaking organisation supports women farmers and producers in what can be a challenging and male-dominated industry.

Blend details:

Farm: Asproagro Community, Kanaris, Lambayeque, Peru
Variety: Various arabicas
Altitude: 1400m +
Café Femenino. Women producers of Asproagro. CECANOR co-op.

Finca La Guadalupe, La Labor, Ocotepeque, Honduras
Variety: Bourbon & Catuai arabicas
Altitude: 1500-1700m    
Produced by Selin Recinos Jr. A member of COCAFELOL.

El Jordan, Planadas, Tolima, Colombia
Variety: Catura, Colombia & Castillo arabicas
Altitude: 1500-1900m  
Producers of the MAZICO association.

CrowTree

Our Lamplight Decaf is gently decaffeinated using the Swiss Water method. This process not only removes the caffeine without resorting to harsh chemicals but also imparts a breaded sweetness that resembles rich fruit cake. Delicious brewed in every method Lamplight is coffee without caffeine or compromise.

Farm: Las Capucas, Copan, Honduras
Producers of the COCAFCAL co-op (“Capucas”)

Lamplight Decaf

Snow Stone, our winter blend, evokes all the flavours of the season. Two natural processed coffee, one from Brazil and one from Ethiopia, that combine to give you a dried cherry sweetness and a smooth chestnut flavour. Added to this is a little washed processed coffee from Colombia. The fuller roast style adds dark chocolate overtones and a full body.

The coffee takes its name from one of the Stanza Stones, a series of poems carved into the rocks in the Pennine Hills. The Snow Stone itself sits in a long disused quarry at Pule Hill above the village of Marsden, etched with a verse from acclaimed poet Simon Armitage.

To be enjoyed in front of the fire when there’s crisp white snow outside.

Blend details:

Farm: Fazenda Passeio, Monte Belo, Sul de Minas, Brazil
Process: Natural
Variety: Bourbon, Catuai & Icatu Arabica “Dark Woods Woodman recipe”
Altitude:1100-1200m
Produced by Adolfo Vieira

Farm: Gedeb & Dumerso, Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
Process: Natural
Variety: Mixed heirloom arabica
Altitude: 1900-2100m
Smallholder producers

Farm: El Ata, Colombia
Process: Washed
Variety: Caturra, Colombia & Castillo arabica
Altitude: 1650-1950m

Snow Stone

A Dark Woods take on a more traditional style of filter coffee, Good Morning Sunshine is bursting with toasty and nutty flavours. Good high altitude washed Central American coffees are taken on a little in the roast to develop body and to add depth and sweetness to this robust and tasty blend. Less fruit-driven than our house Colombian coffee, El Jordan, Good Morning Sunshine is a familiar coffee treated with uncommon love and respect. Because sometimes you just want a coffee that tastes, well, like coffee.

Good Morning Sunshine

Arboretum is a multi-award winning coffee (two-stars in the Great Taste Awards 2017, and one star in 2018). Taking the best of current crops, this espresso is designed to highlight the fruitier side of coffee, left lighter roast to retain those citrus flavours. The latest version of Arboretum is super juicy with flavours of red berries and lemonade

Arboretum Espresso

We were getting requests for a traditional Italian style espresso. This made us nervous as cheap Italian espresso blends can be bitter from over roasting and cheap robusta.

So we set about making a much higher quality version, an elegant modern interpretation in the Dark Woods style.

The blend starts with specialty arabicas from South America and India. Finally, we add in the very best quality robusta from the award-winning Harley Estate in India. It’s just mid roast resulting in a smooth rich bodied espresso that will make people reassess this style.

Blend details:

Farm: Fazenda Passeio,Monte Belo, Sul de Minas, Brazil
Process: Natural
Variety: Bourbon, Catuai & Icatu arabica “Dark Woods Woodman recipe”
Altitude: 1100-1200m
Adolfo Vieira

Farm: Kalledevarapura Estate, Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India
Process: Washed
Variety: S795 & SN9 arabica
Altitude: 1150-1280m
DM Purnesh & DM Shankar.

Farm: Harley Estate, Manjarabad, Karnataka, India
Process: Washed
Variety: Kaapi Royale robusta
Altitude: 945-1035m
DM Purnesh & DM Shankar

Farm: El Jordan, Planadas, Tolima, Colombia
Process: Washed
Variety: Caturra, Colombia & Castillo arabica
Altitude: 1500-1900m
Producers of the MAZICO association.

Deer Hill

An exclusive micro-lot produced by Jairo Humberto Lopez on his 16 hectare Finca Villa Norena coffee farm in the Tolima region, one of our favourite sources of Colombian coffee. Located near to the Nevado del Tolima volcano in Ibague, the towering peak is a direct influence on the diverse micro-climates on the farm and combined with the favourable altitude these help shape the complex flavours of this coffee. 

Pink Bourbon is a rare hybrid of Yellow and Red Bourbon and is very hard to reproduce and isolate with consistency as the genes that express it's colour are recessive. The reward is a cup with enhanced sweetness and complexity as well as additional resistance to coffee leaf rust, so it is becoming more popular with progressive and quality-focused producers. 

Super-bright and juicy as an espresso but especially good with flat whites where the jammy fruit and sweet, biscuity character pairs wonderfully with milk.

Colombia Jario Humberto Lopez Pink Bourbon

Круто, очень видно по регионам что зашло и что нет.

Looking forward to seeing more of your reviews of other coffee here!

Farm & Region:Gui Ben Lan Hua, Yiwu Washing Station, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
Variety:Catimor

This is a beautiful Dark Woods exclsuive micro-lot from producers Tang Xiang, Tian Cai and Guiben Xishuangbanna, sourced from deep within Yunnan. Located just East of Pu-er city in the Shigaoqing and Guiben areas, this an internationally famous tea growing region that is now enjoying similar success with its specialty coffees.

Moderate acidity and an enjoyably soft and creamy body make for an easy-to-brew and rewarding introduction to Chinese coffee. We have featured more fruit-forward naturally processed coffees from this region before, but this honey processed coffee should appeal to consumers seeking more familiar flavours. Fundamentally this is an easy drinking and balanced brew with caramel/burnt sugar sweetness and just a hint of juicy pineapple to keep things interesting.

China Yunnan, Gui Ben Lan Hua Honey

Review one more and our recommendation engine will be able to 'hand-pick' stuff for you ;)

I've been  really  impressed with Chinese  beans  this  year. Some  great flavours 

This is my first experience with Chinese coffee! 

NEW CROP LA HUELLA IS NOW BACK IN THE ROASTERY!

We are delighted that our partnership with Cafe de Panama has resulted in winning the "Golden Fork" for the Best Northern Product in the 2019 Great Taste Awards, and another 2 Star Award in 2020.

This amazing natural process coffee, exclusive to Dark Woods, wowed the GTA judges, who commented, “This is a warm, medium bodied coffee that delivers a thick smokey chocolate note. There’s a slight fermented funk to this a coffee, which judges like. A rich, cherry finish. There is a fruity nose here and the palate is rich with fruit. There is a pleasant finish with some chocolate notes. 3 star.”

The Catuai cherries were produced by Don Manelia and then micro milled by La Huella. This is one of our relationship coffees, exclusive to Dark Woods.

Panama La Huella Natural - 2019 GTA Golden Fork Winner

Farm & Region:Canas Verde, Boquete
Process:Red Honey
Variety:Catuai Arabica

An exceptional direct trade micro-lot exclusive to Dark Woods, produced by Canas Verdes and processed by La Huella, Cafe de Panama.

Our colleague Pedro Moss from La Huella, has been perfecting the processing of the already superb beans from the region, to produce an array of different varieties and styles. Its been a tough year bringing in the 2020 harvest throughout the pandemic but the final results have been stunning. Four of his coffees have won Great Taste Awards this year (and so there are more to come), with this one taking the top 3 stars.

The green coffee is honey processed with a period spent in anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions. This pioneering method borrowed from the wine industry creates different microbial activity to standard honey or natural processing and the end results can be spectacular and surprising. Here Pedro has delivered a winning combination of extreme sweetness and fruity complexity without any hint of excessive boozy or funky notes. It's a classy and elegant coffee that is best brewed long to appreciate it's delicate charms.

Panama La Huella Red Honey - 3 Star GTA Winner

воу, с этикетками все плохо! есть над чем работать! Пиши отзывы!

Я капнула водой на этикетку, и она уплыла :) а так все Кул!

@nastia-debowska уфффф. сам кофе заходит? 

Our house Colombian coffee since 2018, El Ata  (FKA El Jordan) is unique in that it is a single estate that provides us with “fresh” green coffee all-year round thanks to their ability to produce a smaller fly crop in addition to the main annual harvest. We love the vibrant citrus acidity and caramel sweetness in El Ata and it’s a coffee that we return to time after time as the quintessential all-day, everyday brew.

We decided to rename this coffee Driftwood and move it into our Core Range because it's year round availability sets it apart from our other single estate products. It gave us a chance to commission another wonderful illustration from Swiss artist, Julia Marti, whose work is such a big part of our visual identity. El Ata is the river that runs through the region and this coffee is perfect for those relaxed, weightless moments where you lay back and go with the flow.

Driftwood

Returning to our list with a fresh crop from the 2020 harvest is this delicate and exclusive micro-lot coffee from producer Guillermo Lopes. Utilising the unusual Sidra varietal and an extended 14 hour fermentation in his washing process he is able to produce exceptionally clean and bright flavors with unusual and delicate florals. Whereas the lot we purchased last year was notable for its bright and sparkling grapefruit acidity, this coffee features a more rounded cup character with moderate acidity reminiscent of green apple and stonefruit. 

Equador is somewhat overlooked by specialty coffee consumers and we are committed to using our buying platform to raise awareness of exceptional producers such Guillermo. There is growing interest in the Sidra varietal (a recent hybrid of Bourbon and Typica) and we hope that this leads to a greater focus on the origin. The delicate floral notes and high cup quality of Sidra makes it well worth seeking out and we are delighted to have this coffee on our Producer series once more.

Ecuador Guillermo Lomas

From the village of Obarat within the classic, mountainous Haraz region, this Sabcomeed micro-lot from Abdullah Nasar has been natural processed - the coffee is carefully sun-dried within its own cherry - to create a truely beautiful Mokha coffee, with notes of dried fruits and toffee.

Abdullah Nasar has multiple farms in Obarat village, and with a total of around 5000 coffee trees. He supports a family of 3 boys and is considered to be one of the leading farmers in East Haraz.
Hand selected, processed and milled by Sabcomeed, Abdulrahman Hayel Saeed
As one of the original producers in the world, their coffees have long been highly prized. Sadly, the countries recent troubles have only made it even more scarce.

Abdullah Naser

A fragrant and fruity sun-dried natural from Bufcoffee’s most recent addition, the Ubumwe processing station. Founded in 2003 by Epiphanie Mukashyaka, Bufcoffee is one of the leading lights in Rwandan specialty coffee.

Bufcoffee was founded in 2003 by Epiphanie Mukashyaka, a pioneer in the Rwanda specialty coffee industry, and the organisation has grown to encompass 4 distinct “washing stations” which source and process coffee cherries from small farmers in the surrounding districts.

We have two distinctive coffees from Bufcoffee this season; a classic washed coffee from the Nyarusiza washing station (one of Buf’s historic sites, based in the Nyamagabe District of the South Province), and a beautiful natural coffee from the Ubumwe washing station (a much more recent acquisition, based in Kamonyi District, near to the capital Kigali).

Rwanda is renowned for having an abundance of Red Bourbon arabica trees, a heritage varietal that is known for its sweet, complex cup. The fertile soils and high altitudes really support the Red Bourbon, and then the care in processing and sorting is critical to the cup and the flavours of each lot. The fully washed process delivers a bright, crisp cup of coffee and the natural coffees are carefully sorted and sun-dried, lending balanced fruit notes and sweetness.

Rwanda - Bufcoffee, Natural

A classic, fully washed coffee from Bufcoffee’s renowned Nyarusiza washing station. Founded in 2003 by Epiphanie Mukashyaka, Bufcoffee is one of the leading lights in Rwandan specialty coffee.

Bufcoffee was founded in 2003 by Epiphanie Mukashyaka, a pioneer in the Rwanda specialty coffee industry, and the organisation has grown to encompass 4 distinct “washing stations” which source and process coffee cherries from small farmers in the surrounding districts.

We have two distinctive coffees from Bufcoffee this season; a classic washed coffee from the Nyarusiza washing station (one of Buf’s historic sites, based in the Nyamagabe District of the South Province), and a beautiful natural coffee from the Ubumwe washing station (a much more recent acquisition, based in Kamonyi District, near to the capital Kigali).

Rwanda is renowned for having an abundance of Red Bourbon arabica trees, a heritage varietal that is known for its sweet, complex cup. The fertile soils and high altitudes really support the Red Bourbon, and then the care in processing and sorting is critical to the cup and the flavours of each lot. The fully washed process delivers a bright, crisp cup of coffee and the natural coffees are carefully sorted and sun-dried, lending balanced fruit notes and sweetness.

Rwanda - Bufcoffee, Washed

A sister project to the Common Grounds Coffee Porter - for which we roast and source the coffee - Common Grounds is a striking and innovative collaboration with Huddersfield craft brewer Magic Rock.  Utilising Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrels sourced from the brewery we explored the idea of resting green coffee in these used barrels before roasting, in the same way that the brewery ages some of its beers.

After much experimenting we arrived at the choice of a washed Ethiopian Yirgecheffe whose natural floral, citrus character became completely transformed by the process. Retaining notes of vanilla and dried fruit from the oak and carrying a surprising amount of sweet Bourbon aroma this formerly limited-edition coffee is a regular sell-out and cult favourite amongst customers worldwide.

Please note that because each batch must be aged in the barrel for up to two weeks there can sometimes be a short wait for the coffee to be roasted. The flavour and intensity of the whiskey character may also vary as different barrels affect the coffee in their own way - just as single cask whiskies have their own unique signatures.

We are delighted that Common Grounds won coveted 3-Star Gold Awards in both the 2017 and 2018 Great Taste Awards. Judges commented that it, "has a great nose; feels like you can taste the barrels in the aroma. IT delivers a big hit of blackcurrants and forest fruits. With milk the fruits are even more pronounced. Funky, sweet, rich and smooth. Delicious!".

Barrel Aged Common Grounds

EL Jordan, is available but is now under the name Driftwood. Click here to go through:
Shop Driftwood

We decided to rename this coffee Driftwood and move it into our Core Range because it's year round availability sets it apart from our other single estate products. It gave us a chance to commission another wonderful illustration from Swiss artist... whose work is such a big part of our visual identity. El Ata is the river that runs through the region and this coffee is perfect for those relaxed, weightless moments where you lay back and go with the flow.

Finca El Jordan

Adolfo Vieira is one of our key supply partners, and his stunning Fazenda Passeio farm has conjured up this gem from their experimental plot. 100% Arañas arabica, the tiny lot has been beautifully processed to present a clean, fruity and complex cup of coffee.

Adolfo Vieira, and his Fazenda Passeio estate, are one of our key supply partners, and we’ve been sourcing coffee from him since an exploratory visit in 2015. Adolfo prepares two versions of coffee for us, known as “The Woodman”, in Pulped Natural and Natural formats, and these anchor many of our espresso blends throughout the year. Here, full sweet flavours, body and consistency is the key to what we’re looking for in the coffee, matched by unrivalled attitude to social, environmental and quality aspects on the farm.

Adolfo regularly produces outstanding micro-lots, often using year on year favourites like the Yellow Bourbon arabica varietal, and utilising the raised beds on the farm to control the sun drying and prepare the very best lots. But he has also been developing an experimental plot on the farm, to evaluate new arabica varietals and to assess their quality potential, their suitable to the terroir, soil and climate and resistance to pests and disease. With more than 40 different varietals, and 215 coffee trees, there are around 5 trees per type and some really interesting results!

This particular micro-lot, of 100% Arañas, has been beautifully processed to present a clean, fruity and complex cup of coffee. This varietal is a selected cross of Red Icatu with Catimor, and ticks a lot of boxes for productivity, suitability to the local terroir, disease resistance but also quality in the cup (usually a mention of “Catimor” brings a hint of fear in the specialty coffee world, as it’s a great plant for productivity and resistance, but not necessarily great for flavour!)

“The meaning behind the name is that Arañas is an indigenous tribe that inhabited the region of "Capelinha", in the northeast of Minas Gerais. It means “birds that come from the south” in Tupi Guarani.”

Brazil Fazenda Passeio

This is a very drinkable, classic coffee from the famous Esmeralda Estate in Boquete. Near-neighbours to Pedro and his team over at La Huella, we've known the Perterson family who run the estate for over a decade and we source both washed and natural coffees from them.

We decided to develop this coffee in the roast a little more than we normally do for Producer Series coffees as we found that this played to its strengths as a versatile, rich and full-bodied brew with bags of toasted nut and cocoa character. We made delicious, sweet and clean brews across a range of methods including espresso, where it pairs beautifully with milk.

If you normally enjoy our blends for your espresso or filter but are keen to expand your horizons, this is the perfect introduction to single origin coffee. 

Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda - Diamond Mountain

Ninety Plus, led by Joseph Brodsky, are the processing magicians of the specialty coffee industry, pushing the boundaries of coffee fermentation and flavour. Lotus, a 100% Gesha preparation first developed in 2014, utilises a heat regulated fermentation to coax aroma and flavour nuances from the bean. It was named after the sacred Lotus flower which is able to generate heat to regulate the temperature of its blossoms. 

Ninety Plus Panama Lotus Gesha

Peru Asproagro

Sebastian Ramirez’s El Placer, based in Calarca, Quindio, is a pioneering farm. This natural has undertaken carbonic maceration using cherry must and a lactobacillus, experimental fermentation.


Working with Sebastian and El Placer is a new relationship for us in 2021, but one that we see extending well into the future. He’s already prepared three micro-lots for us, and each one has not only captured our imagination but delivered new and unique aromatics and flavours. We were introduced by our friend and supply partner, Roger Zapata of Los Cafes Del Arriero.

Quindio is the beautiful heart of the Colombian coffee belt, and Finca El Placer, in Calarca is owned by fourth generation producer Sebastian Ramirez who has been running the estate for over 10 years. He utilises washed, honey and natural processing and has a beautiful array of heritage varietals, including Geisha, Red, Pink & Yellow Bourbon and Wush Wush. All processing undergoes extended, carbonic fermentation and Sebastian also adds coffee “must” from the cherries to aid flavour development during the long fermentation. The coffees are then slowly dried on patios and raised tables.

In this particular micro-lot prepared for Dark Woods, lactobacillus has been introduced during fermentation to drives deeper, more complex flavours. Sebastian has access to a microbiology lab that helps in the development of innovative coffees like this. It’s sweet, juicy and full of vibrant citrus, spice and tropical fruit notes.

Colombia El Placer 100% Yellow Bourbon - Natural

Omar Arango is a third-generation coffee producer, based in Libano, Tolima, using a particularly natural, environmentally sustainably approach to coffee farming. This micro-lot has undergone a 36 hours anaerobic fermentation and then the cherries are slowly dried on marquesinas (raised beds.)

Omar has been producing coffee for over 25 years, and his San Luis farm is located at high altitude in northern Tolima, one of our favourite regions for sourcing Colombian coffee. Growing classic arabica varietals like Red Bourbon, Typica, Caturra, Gesha (Geisha) and Tabi, Omar only processes using semi-washed, honey and natural techniques in order to minimise the consumption of water resources (traditional, fully washed coffees – the mainstay of Colombian coffee exports – require heavy water usage.)

Regardless of the process style, Omar primarily focuses on anaerobic production (removing air and oxygen allows the fermentation of the coffee to be extended, to develop more complex flavours) and for this micro-lot, he has selected cherries from the famous Typica varietal and anaerobically fermented the natural coffee for 36 hours, before slow drying on the raised marquesinas. Only ripe cherries are selected, and are then carefully sorted in water and by hand.

Colombia San Luis 100% Typica - Natural

Finca Marsella is a small farm located just outside overlooking the town and three active volcanos in the centre of the Colombian Andes; Nevado del Ruiz, Santa Isabel and Nevado del Tolima.
This farm sits just below the La Nona Reserve protected forest between 1,710-1,792 meters above sea level with an average temperature around 19 degrees Celsius. Planted here are 1.5 hectares of Bourbon and Typica coffee trees, 3 hectares of Gesha and Enano Gesha, also known as, Dwarf Gesha, and .5 hectares of Sudan Rume. The farm is dissected by a water way coming from the Reserve called Que Brada La Nona. A large portion of the farm and its borders are surrounded by protected forests. There is a unique micro-climate at Marsella that brings rain showers, thunderstorms, and cooling breezes, making this location exceptional for producing rare, distinctive, and award-winning coffee. 

Mikava Estates, founded in 2013, is owned and operated by Paul Kevin Doyle, an American who has lived in Colombia for over a decade. Paul and family developed from running a coffee cart, to a café and roastery in the Pacific Northwest before turning his attention to coffee production. With support from his son Kevin, they decided to buy a beautiful coffee farm in Marsella in the Risaralda region of Colombia, and to focus on the finest, quality driven arabica varietals, processed using modern techniques. Inspired by techniques from the wine industry, particularly carbonic maceration, they experimented with these methods to bring out more sweetness, complexity, fruit and floral notes in the coffee.

We were introduced to Paul’s coffees in 2020 by Roger Zapata of Los Cafes Del Arriero, and we released small batches of Marsella Red Bourbon and Santuario Gesha to incredible customer feedback. These coffees have focused on an experimental, extended fermentation on the coffee cherries, undergoing carbonic maceration inside CO2 injected tanks, and then slow drying on marquesinas (multilevel solar dryers.) Drying can take up to 60 days in total before reaching the desired humidity. Temperature and pH levels are monitored during fermentation.

Colombia Mikava 100% Red Bourbon - Natural

For a sixth season, the return of a past Great Taste Award winner from producer Luiz Zanetti, from the beautiful rolling hills around Poços de Caldas, Sul de Minas.

The fragrance is rich with toasted notes of cashew and vanilla sweetness and the brewed coffee layers this with a really appealing hit of dried figs. This is a classic Brazil natural so the fruit notes imparted by the process of drying the beans in the cherry, are clean and sweet rather than boozy or funky but they do serve to bring added complexity. In the cup expect lots of milk chocolate and nuts with a gentle white grape acidity and a fig and raisin sweetness. The body is soft, full and creamy as you might expect from a lower altitude coffee and this carries over from filter to espresso. 

I rarely recommend single estate Brazils for espresso as I find that despite their suitability for blending, they can be a bit one dimensional when presented on their own. I’m pleased to say that the Serra e Leite however makes a wonderfully sweet and plump espresso with bags of origin character and surprising complexity. In milk it’s Nutella and fig rolls in this comforting and super-satisfying coffee. 

Brazil Sitio Serra E Leite

Farm & Region:Union Pro-Agro, Chijchipani, Caranavi, Yungas
Variety:Caturra, Criollo & Typica arabica

Sourced from over 40 women coffee producers from the rugged Yungas region, all members of the Union Pro-Agro co-operative, this Café Femenino coffee makes a classic, full-bodied brew.

Bolivia Union Pro-Agro

The coffee is sourced by our friends Sabcomeed from a collective of 150 farmers around Shaia’an village, in the Al-Qafr region of Ibb. We take annual supplies of their Shaia’an sun-dried natural, but this is an anaerobically processed lot that has extra fruitiness and complexity. We’ll be running this coffee as our “house” Yemeni Mokha through 2021-2022.

The mountainous area in and around Shaia’an, in Al-Qafr, provides perfect conditions for the cultivation and processing of coffee – the region has dryer, and more temperature stable conditions which are suited to natural (dry) processing, and drying the coffee cherries evenly on raised beds. Classic heirloom varietals of arabica, such as Odaini and Typica, thrive here. The coffee cherries here are sourced from around 150 small farmers.

Yemen - Shaia'an Collective

The expansive Kisson Estate is situated in Komothai, Kiambu County, in Kenya’s central highlands. This is an area renowned for its coffee production and estates. This coffee’s profile is towards the “classic” Kenyan flavour, with deep fruit notes and complex, zesty acidity. It delivers a juicy, satisfying cup of coffee.

Kenya, Kisson Estate AB

Not so much stuck between extremes as offering the best of both, Under Milk Wood was not only the first blend we created but also represents the concept behind Dark Woods. A medium roast delivers familiar and crowd-pleasing caramel sweetness but adventurous sourcing takes it beyond the perceived limits of this style. All coffee drinkers should find something to enjoy here so if you're new to our range this is the perfect place to start.

Under Milk Wood is a multiple Great Taste Award winner and received a coveted Golden Fork in 2016 for Best Northern Product. 

Farm & Region:Brazil Passeio, India Kalladavarapura, Ethiopia Yirgecheffe
Altitude:Various
Process:Pulped Natural, Washed, Washed
Variety:Various arabicas

Dark Woods Gift Tins - Under Milk Wood

A sister project to the Common Grounds Coffee Porter - for which we roast and source the coffee - Common Grounds is a striking and innovative collaboration with Huddersfield craft brewer Magic Rock.  Utilising Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrels sourced from the brewery we explored the idea of resting green coffee in these used barrels before roasting, in the same way that the brewery ages some of its beers.

After much experimenting we arrived at the choice of a washed Ethiopian Yirgecheffe whose natural floral, citrus character became completely transformed by the process. Retaining notes of vanilla and dried fruit from the oak and carrying a surprising amount of sweet Bourbon aroma this formerly limited-edition coffee is a regular sell-out and cult favourite amongst customers worldwide.

Please note that because each batch must be aged in the barrel for up to two weeks there can sometimes be a short wait for the coffee to be roasted. The flavour and intensity of the whiskey character may also vary as different barrels affect the coffee in their own way - just as single cask whiskies have their own unique signatures.

Common Grounds – Barrel Aged Coffee

This stunning coffee from Ashenafi Argaw, and his Ardent Export operation, is sourced and processed from ripe cherries selected in and around Gedeb and Dumerso villages, in the Yirgacheffe region. The clean, ripe and sugar-rich cherries undergo an anaerobic fermentation before being carefully sun-dried – expect intense aromatics and tropical fruit flavours.

Ethiopia Ardent Yirgacheffe

This classic, fully washed coffee from Ashenafi Argaw, and his Ardent Export operation, is sourced and processed from ripe cherries selected in and around Gedeb and Dumerso villages, in the Yirgacheffe region. The clean, ripe and sugar-rich cherries are pulped in fresh water, and undergo fermentation before being fully washed in clean water and carefully sun-dried on raised beds.

Ethiopia Ardent Yirgacheffe, Washed Process

Farm & Region:Colombia El Ata, Honduras Guadalupe
Altitude:Various
Process:Washed, Washed
Variety:Various arabicas

Coffee Details
Our award winning Good Morning Sunshine is now available in 150g Gift tins.

A bold breakfast blend, selected from sweet and complex high-altitude South & Central American arabicas. A medium roast tempers the natural acidity found in high altitude washed arabicas and adds body and depth whilst retaining stone fruit and milk chocolate sweetness.

This is a perfect everyday coffee for those who like a richer brew and it stands up to milk, sugar, eggs, bacon and cornflakes alike.

Dark Woods Gift Tins - Good Morning Sunshine

Changing regularly in line with global growing seasons, our Producer Series aims to showcase the very best lots and micro-lots from our friends and colleagues at origin. Each month we will pair two of these coffees together to demonstrate the way that contrasting farming methods and growing condition drive variety of style and flavour.

One will always steer towards more classic coffee flavours, the other a wilder and more fruity expression of the farmers craft.

Ethiopia Ardent Yirgacheffe, Washed

Ethiopia Ardent Yirgacheffe, Anaerobic Natural

Tasting Notes
Washed - Jasmine & Sweet Lemon. Natural - Peach, passionfruit & orange zest

Suitable For
The washed is best for filter but the natural is also great as an espresso

Darkwoods Coffee

3.8

Darkwoods Coffee

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Coffee Roasts

Arboretum Espresso

Common Grounds – Barrel Aged Coffee

CrowTree

Dark Woods Gift Tins - Common Grounds – Barrel Aged Coffee

Dark Woods Gift Tins - Good Morning Sunshine

Dark Woods Gift Tins - Under Milk Wood

Deer Hill

Driftwood

Ethiopia Ardent Yirgacheffe

Ethiopia Ardent Yirgacheffe, Washed Process

Ethiopia Twin Pack - Washed & Natural Process

Good Morning Sunshine

Kenya, Kisson Estate AB

Lamplight Decaf

Panama La Huella Natural - 2019 GTA Golden Fork Winner

Under Milk Wood

Yemen - Shaia'an Collective

Coffee archive

Abdullah Naser

Barrel Aged Common Grounds

Bolivia Union Pro-Agro

Brazil Fazenda Passeio

Brazil Sitio Serra E Leite

China Yunnan, Gui Ben Lan Hua Honey

Colombia El Placer 100% Yellow Bourbon - Natural

Colombia Jario Humberto Lopez Pink Bourbon

Colombia Mikava 100% Red Bourbon - Natural

Colombia San Luis 100% Typica - Natural

Ecuador Guillermo Lomas

Finca El Jordan

Ninety Plus Panama Lotus Gesha

Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda - Diamond Mountain

Panama La Huella Red Honey - 3 Star GTA Winner

Peru Asproagro

Rwanda - Bufcoffee, Natural

Rwanda - Bufcoffee, Washed

Snow Stone

New Coffee Review