Tasting Notes: Bold, chocolatey & caramelised
We are very proud of our signature blend that is Dark Horse. Beans from two farms in two different regions in Guatemala have been carefully selected for their very distinctive flavours.
The roast profile used for Dark Horse brings out its rich, caramelised and chocolatey body, finishing with a pleasant acidity, which is a characteristic typical of high-grown coffee.
From £6.50
Huehuetenango is a municipality in the western highlands of Guatemala, running up to the border with Mexico and encompassing a lot of microclimates across its hills and valleys. Peña Roja, which translates as red rock, lies in the foothills of Peña Blanca.
The Acatenango cooperative is located in Acatenango, Chimaltenango, on the slopes of the Acatenango volcano, which is the third highest in the Central American range and gives the cooperative its name. Volcan de Acatenango is located close to Volcan de Fuego.
Peña Roja - A heavy focus on how they can maintain the traceability and character of their coffee and share expertise is a priority for the local cooperative. They also provide a free nursery for children under eight in their community.
The area is well established and has been producing coffee since 1967, when 24 original members joined forces to get a better price for their coffee. The area has grown considerably since then and as of 2018 has 351 members.
Coffee is picked by hand, washed and dried on patios under the sun (often these patios are actually the roofs of houses perching on the slopes and hillsides). Further processing at the dry mill that is located in La Libertad takes place to prepare bags for shipping and export. The area has a selection of varieties that allow good crop diversity.
After picking, coffee is washed and pulped before drying for a day on the patios and then being moved to guardiolas for controlled drying. This is typically 40 hours at 45 degrees before being reduced to 30 degrees and finally 15 degrees until optimum moisture content is reached.
Seasonal espresso
Bright, Sweet, Honey & berries
A seasonal blend that will change as the year goes round
£6.50
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Guest coffee
Balanced, honey & almond notes
A washed coffee from the Ocotepeque region of Honduras
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House brew
Milk chocolate & toasted almond
A natural processed coffee from the Minas Gerais region of Brazil
£6.00
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Guest coffee
Complex, crisp, raspberry & lime
A washed coffee from Yirgacheffe in the southern Gedeo zone of Ethiopia
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Shelley –
Fabulous coffee! Rich, dark and wonderfully aromatic. I’ll definitely be ordering more!
Caroline –
I am very fussy when it comes to my coffee; I’ve tried Monmouth, Pact, “exclusive” supermarket brands etc and in my opinion, Dark Horse beats them all hands down. It’s got great punch, without being bitter. I like strong coffee and if you heap this one in, you have the strength without losing any flavour. It is definitely the best coffee around, by miles!
Jess –
Delicious, both as an espresso or flat white. Highly recommended!