Coastal Blend Dark Side 2.0
Roasted by Central Coast Coffee in Somersby, NSW
Tasting notes
Dark Chocolate, Caramel, showing great body and Italian character. Brenton said: "Marlboro Red Label" finish
In the roaster's own words.
- Roast
- Medium dark · For espresso
- Process
- Mixed
- Caffeine
- Regular
What Central Coast Coffee say
Discount applies automatically at checkout — mix & match any espresso roast.
This coffee’s roasted in our espresso style — but that doesn’t mean you need to brew it as espresso. You can make it however you like — espresso, filter, moka pot, AeroPress or whatever you enjoy. We roast it a touch darker than we would a filter roast to caramelise the sugars and bring out smooth chocolatey and nutty flavours that cut beautifully through milk.
When you add milk the natural sweetness, fat and proteins tend to soften acidity and highlight caramelised flavours. That’s why lighter filter roasts can sometimes taste a bit sharp or sour with milk — they’re simply not built for it. Espresso roasts being more developed balance this out. The deeper caramelisation creates toffee and cocoa notes that blend harmoniously with milk’s creaminess while a hint of gentle bitterness adds that satisfying ‘coffee punch’ in your flat white or cappuccino.
If you prefer your coffee black this roast will still give you a full-bodied rich cup with plenty of depth and sweetness. For a lighter fruitier experience you might enjoy exploring our filter range instead.
uses a variety of different beans to make a unique flavour.
Uses a variety of processing methods to bring out a unique flavour.
This green coffee is stored at 23°C in a climate-controlled room, which is a step up from standard warehouse storage, as the ambient temperature does not fluctuate as much
This is a more accurate reflection of the actual roast colour than external as it's measured after grinding. Internal Agtron reveals how far into the bean the roast has penetrated. Our filter roasts often score over 100, preserving acidity, florals, and the unique vibrant characteristics of each origin and process. Please bear in mind that grind coarseness can affect the internal colour readings, so it is impossible to compare from roaster to roaster using this colour reading.
This refers to the surface colour of the whole roasted bean, but it's not always a reliable indicator of roast level. Some of our most vibrant and lightly roasted coffees, like our Ecuadorian Sidra, may appear medium-dark (Agtron 50–60) due to their surface colour, yet are in fact light roasts with minimal development time. Surface colour can be affected by the original green colour, bean type, density, and moisture — so don't judge a bean by its exterior.
The Agtron spread is the difference between the colour of whole beans and ground coffee, showing how deeply the coffee is developed. A spread of 0–10 usually indicates very dark, oily roasts typical of Italian-style, which we don't offer at our Roastery. Spreads between 11–20 and 21–30 represent the roast levels you'll find in our espresso coffees, balancing sweetness, acidity, and body. Spreads above 30 make up most of our filter coffee range, featuring very light, bright roasts that highlight fruity, floral, and complex flavours. Within this, spreads from 31–40 offer clarity and vibrancy, while spreads of 40–50 showcase ultra-light roasts with delicate acidity and nuanced character.
This shows how the recommended grind size for this coffee differs from our baseline Coastal Blend setting. A negative number means a finer grind is recommended; a positive number means coarser. It helps dial in your grinder without starting from scratch.
The ROEST P3000 is a compact powerhouse that redefines what’s possible in small-batch production roasting. With the ability to roast 1–3 kg batches in under 7 minutes and crank out over 25 kg per hour, it delivers serious output without demanding a full-time operator. Automation handles everything from preheating to cooldown, with between-batch protocols ensuring consistent conditions roast after roast. Its slim footprint and lightweight build make it perfect for roasteries where space is tight but precision and efficiency are non-negotiable.
What truly sets the P3000 apart is its unmatched control and data richness. It features more than 18 sensors—bean, exhaust, drum, humidity, pressure, and even a first-crack microphone—paired with PID-controlled airflow, drum speed, and temperature. A built-in bean camera offers live visual feedback, eliminating the need for a trier and paving the way for future AI enhancements. Whether you’re dialing in new coffees or replicating profiles at scale, the P3000 brings the lab-level accuracy of the ROEST sample roaster into full production—effortlessly and repeatably.
Dark Chocolate, Caramel, showing great body and Italian character. Brenton said: "Marlboro Red Label" finish
If you're looking for a stronger flavoured Coastal Blend then we present to you our Dark Side Edition.
We took our popular Coastal Blend which usually is roasted to a medium and roasted it with more development time to Medium Dark. This gives it a glossy finish and the oils will start to appear on the bean.
If you prefer a smoother milky coffee then try our Coastal Blend roasted lighter here.
When coffee is roasted darker, it tastes stronger because bitterness, smoke, and roast flavours become more dominant. That heavy, bold flavour is what most people describe as strength.
But as coffee is roasted darker, something else happens.
The coffee becomes heavier, more bitter, and less nuanced
Very dark roasts can taste intense, but they often lose clarity and sweetness. The shiny, oily surface you see on dark beans is a sign that the roast has broken down the bean structure and pushed oils outward.
This is why darker coffee tastes bold and smoky, but not necessarily complex.
In other words, a coffee can taste very strong while containing less caffeine, and a lighter coffee can still pack a serious caffeine hit.
Some are pushed darker for body and boldness. Others are roasted lighter to preserve sweetness, clarity, and origin character. Strength on our bags refers to flavour/darkness intensity , not how much caffeine you will get.
If you want help choosing, our blend comparison table is the easiest place to start.
Tastes the strongest due to it being roasted the darkest.
Tastes dark and bold, but is 100% Arabica, so caffeine is lower than Darkside despite a similar roast depth.
Bright and lighter tasting, but still contains plenty of caffeine. It just doesn't taste as heavy, fantastic as black and ok with milk.
Coastal Blend Dark Side. I've now tried the Coastal Blend and the Coastal Blend Dark Side. Both are delicious, but if you love that bit of dark chocolate flavour the Dark Side is it. Granola made with Coastal Blend Dark Side is the best way to start the day!
Quoted from their product page.





