Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass (Dark Roast) Whole Bean edges out Starbucks Espresso Roast Whole Bean, 7.8 to 6.7. It wins on flavor & cup quality, quality & freshness, value.
Flavor
How they taste.
Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass (Dark Roast) Whole Bean
Starbucks Espresso Roast Whole Bean
Side by side
Every detail, compared.
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- Dark Chocolate
- Malt
- Molasses
- Licorice
- Molasses
- Caramel
- Burnt Sugar
- • Dark-roast drinkers who take milk or cream
- • French press and cold brew
- • Shoppers who prioritize organic and Fairtrade labels
- • Recreating Starbucks-style lattes and macchiatos at home
- • Drinkers who like a very dark, low-acid espresso
- • Moka pot coffee
- 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
- Same blend Starbucks uses for café espresso drinks
- Sold almost everywhere, including warehouse clubs
- Bold, low-acid profile that cuts through milk and syrups
- Smoky, roasty profile is too dark for many black-coffee drinkers
- Dark, oily beans can be hard on super-automatic grinders
- Very dark roast that many reviewers describe as burnt or bitter
- Oily beans can clog super-automatic grinders
FAQ
Quick answers.
Which is better, Kick Ass (Dark Roast) Whole Bean or Espresso Roast Whole Bean?
Kicking Horse Coffee Kick Ass (Dark Roast) Whole Bean edges out Starbucks Espresso Roast Whole Bean, 7.8 to 6.7. It wins on flavor & cup quality, quality & freshness, value.
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.