This French-style roast uses Central American coffee beans. It features a heavy body with very little acidity, delivering sweet and roasty characteristics throughout. The roast is developed to emphasize chocolate notes and sweetness while avoiding over-roasted flavors. The profile balances sweet notes of caramel and French vanilla with subtle, smokey notes of bourbon, creating a classic dark roast.
Founded in 1983 by Mike McLaughlin, a Richmond schoolteacher, alongside Pete and Bob McLaughlin, this family owned roaster began with a repurposed peanut roaster holding just 10 pounds per batch. Based in Emeryville, California, McLaughlin has evolved into a multigenerational operation with Mike's son Mark rejoining the family business after a career in Silicon Valley tech. The company sources and roasts premium coffee beans with the same precision and care it has maintained since its founding, blending traditional values with modern specialty coffee standards.
