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Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass (Dark Roast) Whole Bean edges out Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Whole Bean, 7.8 to 7.2. It wins on flavor & cup quality, quality & freshness, value.

Flavor

How they taste.

Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Whole Bean

FruityFloralSweetNutty & CocoaSpiceRoastedGreen & EarthyFermentedCreamyBerryStone FruitCitrusTropicalOrchard & VineDried FruitBlossomTea-likeBrown SugarCaramelizedVanilla & ConfectionNuttyCocoaWarm SpicePungentToast & GrainSmoky & DeepVegetal & UmamiHerbalEarthy & WoodyWineyBoozyFermentedDairy & ButteryBlackberryRaspberryBlueberryStrawberryBlackcurrantCranberryPeachApricotCherryPlumNectarineLemonLimeOrangeGrapefruitTangerineBergamotMangoPineapplePassion FruitPapayaLycheeGuavaGreen AppleRed ApplePearWhite GrapeRed GrapeMelonRaisinPruneFigDateJasmineRoseOrange BlossomHoneysuckleLavenderElderflowerBlack TeaEarl GreyChamomileHibiscusOolongBrown SugarMolassesMaple SyrupPanelaCaramelToffeeButterscotchHoneyVanillaMarshmallowNougatMarzipanCotton CandyAlmondHazelnutPeanutWalnutPecanPistachioCoconutMilk ChocolateDark ChocolateCocoa PowderCacao NibBrownieCinnamonCloveNutmegCardamomStar AniseGingerBlack PepperLicoriceToastMaltGraham CrackerBiscuitCerealSmokyTobaccoRoastyBurnt SugarUmamiFresh GrassSeaweedSweet PeaSpinachMintSageBasilLemongrassEarthyMushroomCedarForest FloorRed WineWhite WinePortWhiskeyRumBrandyFermented FruitKombuchaYogurtButterSweet CreamCondensed MilkOat MilkFruityFloralSweetSpiceRoastedCreamy

Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass (Dark Roast) Whole Bean

FruityFloralSweetNutty & CocoaSpiceRoastedGreen & EarthyFermentedCreamyBerryStone FruitCitrusTropicalOrchard & VineDried FruitBlossomTea-likeBrown SugarCaramelizedVanilla & ConfectionNuttyCocoaWarm SpicePungentToast & GrainSmoky & DeepVegetal & UmamiHerbalEarthy & WoodyWineyBoozyFermentedDairy & ButteryBlackberryRaspberryBlueberryStrawberryBlackcurrantCranberryPeachApricotCherryPlumNectarineLemonLimeOrangeGrapefruitTangerineBergamotMangoPineapplePassion FruitPapayaLycheeGuavaGreen AppleRed ApplePearWhite GrapeRed GrapeMelonRaisinPruneFigDateJasmineRoseOrange BlossomHoneysuckleLavenderElderflowerBlack TeaEarl GreyChamomileHibiscusOolongBrown SugarMolassesMaple SyrupPanelaCaramelToffeeButterscotchHoneyVanillaMarshmallowNougatMarzipanCotton CandyAlmondHazelnutPeanutWalnutPecanPistachioCoconutMilk ChocolateDark ChocolateCocoa PowderCacao NibBrownieCinnamonCloveNutmegCardamomStar AniseGingerBlack PepperLicoriceToastMaltGraham CrackerBiscuitCerealSmokyTobaccoRoastyBurnt SugarUmamiFresh GrassSeaweedSweet PeaSpinachMintSageBasilLemongrassEarthyMushroomCedarForest FloorRed WineWhite WinePortWhiskeyRumBrandyFermented FruitKombuchaYogurtButterSweet CreamCondensed MilkOat MilkFruityFloralSweetSpiceRoastedCreamy

Side by side

Every detail, compared.

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Coffee Reviews score
7.2Good
7.8Good
Flavor & cup quality30% of score
6.8
7.6
Quality & freshness20% of score
6.9
7.6
Value20% of score
7.7
7.9
Sourcing & transparency15% of score
7.2
8.1
Community love15% of score
7.5
7.9
Community
No ratings yet
No ratings yet
Price per serving
$0.66 / cup$19.99 / 1 lb
$0.90 / cup$16.99 / 10 oz
Flavor fingerprint
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Cocoa Powder
  • Cherry
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Malt
  • Molasses
  • Licorice
Roast / grade
Dark
Dark
Origin
🇮🇳 India, 🇵🇪 Peru
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Process
—
—
Format
Whole bean
Whole bean
Caffeine
high
Regular
Brew methods
Drip machine, French press, Cold brew, Espresso
French press, Drip machine, Pour-over, Cold brew, Moka pot
Certifications
USDA Organic, Fair Trade
USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Kosher
Video reviews
Best for
  • • Drinkers who want maximum caffeine from drip coffee
  • • Cold brew and iced coffee
  • • Shoppers who want an organic, Fair Trade dark roast
  • • Dark-roast drinkers who take milk or cream
  • • French press and cold brew
  • • Shoppers who prioritize organic and Fairtrade labels
Strengths
  • High caffeine (about 180 mg per 6 oz serving, per the brand)
  • USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified beans
  • Low-acid, heavy-bodied dark roast that works as cold brew
  • Certified organic and Fairtrade beans
  • Bold, low-acid dark roast that stands up to milk and sugar
  • Widely available, with a 2.2 lb bag that lowers the cost per cup
Watch-outs
  • The robusta-containing dark roast can taste harsh or bitter if over-dosed
  • Marketing focuses on strength rather than flavor or origin
  • Smoky, roasty profile is too dark for many black-coffee drinkers
  • Dark, oily beans can be hard on super-automatic grinders

FAQ

Quick answers.

Which is better, Dark Roast Whole Bean or Kick Ass (Dark Roast) Whole Bean?

Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass (Dark Roast) Whole Bean edges out Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Whole Bean, 7.8 to 7.2. It wins on flavor & cup quality, quality & freshness, value.

Which costs less per cup?

Death Wish Coffee Dark Roast Whole Bean works out to about $0.66 / cup and Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass (Dark Roast) Whole Bean to about $0.90 / cup, based on typical retail prices when we last checked.

How do you score them?

Both are scored on the same five-factor rubric — weighted for flavor or performance, quality, value, sourcing or build, and community sentiment — using public specs, verified creator reviews and community consensus.