Max's Blend is a signature dark roast blend created in 1987, designed to be bold, smokey, and complex. The blend contains coffees from highly regarded coffee growing regions worldwide. It features a heavy body with very little acidity. The cup starts with an immediate punch of smoke, which fades to reveal dark chocolate notes with dried fruit sweetness and vanilla cream. The finish is very long, bold, and smokey with notes of peaty scotch. Cupping notes include smoked cedar, vanilla cream, and dark chocolate.
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.
