Are Coffee Drinkers Shifting to Dark & Bold Roasts?

For years, specialty coffee culture championed lighter roasts, where bright acidity, delicate fruit notes and single-origin storytelling dominated café menus. But the pendulum is swinging back. Increasingly, coffee drinkers are rediscovering the appeal of darker, fuller-bodied roasts, with many enjoying bold, Italian-style coffees and a renewed appetite for that classic, intense “coffee” flavour.

Darker roasts deliver a richer body, lower acidity and the chocolatey, roasted flavours many people associate with traditional espresso. They also cut through milk exceptionally well, making them ideal for flat whites, lattes and cappuccinos, which are still among the most popular coffees.

There’s also a comfort factor. While lighter roasts can be complex and sometimes sharp, darker blends provide consistency, depth and an easy-drinking character. As more people brew coffee at home or seek dependable everyday options, bold roasts offer reliability without sacrificing flavour intensity.

Gordon St Coffee has been roasting fresh coffee on site in Glasgow since 2014, building a reputation for carefully crafted blends designed to suit a wide range of palates, particularly medium-to-dark profiles that deliver richness, balance and approachability such as our Glasgow, Edinburgh and House blends amongst many more.

Choosing a darker roast from a specialist roaster means you still benefit from quality beans and expert roasting, simply with more punch in the cup. Whether it’s a strong morning espresso or a milk-based coffee with real depth, embracing bolder roasts can elevate your daily brew.

Sometimes, going darker just means returning to what coffee does best: full flavour, satisfying aroma, and a cup that tastes unmistakably like coffee.

Enjoy.