Our two Lake Anna dark roast coffees come in very different styles, because not all dark roast is the same. If you’ve ever bought two bags labeled “dark roast” and been surprised by how different they tasted, you’re not imagining it. Dark roast runs from just past medium to practically charcoal, and where a coffee lands in between changes everything about the cup.
Through our partnership with Lake Anna Outfitters, I roast two coffees that land at different points on that range: Lake Anna Monster and Lake Anna Life. They’re a good way to taste the difference.
Lake Anna Monster: Dark Roast, No Apologies
Right in the middle of the dark roast range. Smooth and bold, with bittersweet chocolate, almond, and a little smoke — rich and full-bodied without turning bitter or one-note. This is dark roast for someone who actually reaches for dark roast, not someone easing into it. It’s the coffee for whatever monster stories you come back with after a day out on the water.
Lake Anna Life: Dark Roast, Gentler Side
Lake Anna Life sits closer to the edge — the point where dark roast starts but hasn’t gone all the way. Warm and rich with dark chocolate, orange zest, and molasses, without the heavy, smoky char you get from a full dark roast. It’s an easygoing, balanced cup, built for slow mornings and slower afternoons.
Lake Anna Dark Roast Coffee: Which One Do You Reach For?
If you like your coffee bold enough to hold its own — black, first cup of the morning — Monster’s your coffee. If you want some of that dark roast depth without the heavier punch of bitterness, and you’d rather ease into your day than get hit by it, Life is the better fit.
Both are available online, and in person at Lake Anna Outfitters (13708 Anna Point Lane, Mineral), The Bearded Bakery, and Plum Pickings in Montpelier. Online, they’re roasted in small batches every few days and ship the next business day, so what shows up at your door is fresh.