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Product Details
Two washed coffees, one very clean cup.
Ethiopia 50% - Chelchele Heirloom Washed Grade 1
Bolivia 50% - APCERL | Caturra, Catuai & Catimor Washed (Organic)
Driftwood is the first blend we have built entirely from washed coffees, and you can taste the decision. Where Somersby and Frederiks lean on a natural Brazil for weight and chocolate, this one takes its body from a high-grown Bolivian and its lift from Yirgacheffe. There is no fermented fruit sitting on top and no roast used to cover anything up. What you get is what the two lots actually are.
The Ethiopian half is Chelchele, a Grade 1 Special Prep lot from Kochere in the Gedeo zone, picked to a 90% ripe-cherry standard and dried on raised beds. It brings jammy apricot, mellow caramel and a soft floral edge. The Bolivian half comes from APCERL, a certified organic co-operative in the Larecaja province of La Paz, shade-grown under agroforestry on the edge of Madidi National Park. It brings dried apple, dark chocolate and a biscuity sweetness that gives the blend its base.
Together they land somewhere between orchard fruit and baked sweetness. Medium roast, no oil on the bean, and a finish that stays clean rather than lingering. It pulls well as espresso and holds its shape through milk, though the fruit is easiest to find in a long black.
Best for: Espresso, long black, milk drinks
Style: Clean, sweet, orchard-fruited
F.A.Q. - How does this compare to our other blends?
| Blend | Origins | Roast Style | Weight Loss | Strength Level | Why it tastes this way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Blend | Blend of Central Americans | Medium | ~13.9% | ●●● Medium | Cuts through milk well |
| Bouddi Blend | Colombia 67% · Ethiopia 33% | Medium | ~13.5% | ●● Medium | Lighter roast, higher clarity |
| Frederiks Blend | Brazil 50% · Ethiopia 50% | Medium | ~13.2% | ●● Medium | Lighter roast, higher clarity |
| Driftwood Blend | Ethiopia 50% · Bolivia 50% | Medium | ~13.2% | ●● Medium | Two washed lots, no natural |
| Somersby Blend | Brazil 67% · Ethiopia 33% | Dark | ~16% | ●●●● Strong | Dark Arabica, smoother profile |
| Coastal Darkside | Same as Coastal | Dark | ~16% | ●●●●● Strong | Darker roast than Coastal |
| Becs Blend | Brazil 67% · Colombia 33% | Dark | ~18% | ●●●●● Extra Strong |
Very Dark |
| Jacks Magic Bean Blend | Brazil 67% · Ethiopia 33% | Rotating | Varies | Varies | Experimental, changes each roast |
Roast strength vs roast darkness
A "strong" coffee doesn't always mean a darker roast.
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.
What happens as coffee gets darker
As roasting continues:
- Natural sugars caramelise, then burn
- Acidity drops
- Origin flavours fade
- Oils move to the surface of the bean
- 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.
So what actually makes a coffee feel strong?
Flavour strength comes from:
- Roast depth
- Coffee species, Robusta tastes stronger than Arabica
- Brew ratio and extraction
Caffeine, on the other hand:
- Is higher in Robusta than Arabica
- Changes only slightly with roast level
- Is more affected by dose than darkness
In other words, a coffee can taste very strong while containing less caffeine, and a lighter coffee can still pack a serious caffeine hit.
How we think about roasting
We roast each blend to suit its purpose.
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.
What this means for our blends
-
Becs Blend
Tastes the strongest due to it being roasted the darkest. -
Coastal Darkside
Next strongest -
Somersby Blend
Tastes dark and bold, but is 100% Arabica, so caffeine is lower than Darkside despite a similar roast depth. -
Coastal Blend
Balanced strength and cuts through milk well. -
Frederiks Blend
Bright and lighter tasting, but still contains plenty of caffeine. It just doesn't taste as heavy, fantastic as black and ok with milk. -
Bouddi Blend
Bright and lighter tasting, but still contains plenty of caffeine. It just doesn't taste as heavy, fantastic as black and ok with milk. -
Driftwood Blend
Our cleanest and sweetest blend. Both halves are washed, so there is no natural fruit heaviness sitting over the top, just orchard fruit and a clear finish. -
Jacks Magic Bean Blend
Our experiment bench. The roast and the lots move around, so strength varies from batch to batch. Check the current listing before you buy.