Café Special Medium-Dark Roast Ground Coffee (12 oz)

Louisiana's family-roasted medium-dark blend: full-bodied, low-acid and nutty, with caramel and cocoa notes.

7.4

Good

Coffee Reviews score

See the breakdown →

Community

—/10

Roast: Medium-dark
Format: Ground
Caffeine: Regular
Price per serving: $0.44 / cup

Caramel
Cocoa Powder

Kosher

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Last reviewed October 17, 2026 by the Coffee Reviews editors · How we score

Louisiana's family-roasted medium-dark blend: full-bodied, low-acid and nutty, with caramel and cocoa notes.

Café Special is Community Coffee's flagship medium-dark blend of 100% Arabica beans, sold ground in 12, 20, 32 and 40 oz bags. The roaster lists caramel, cocoa and nutty notes with full body and medium-low brightness, and recommends it for drip, pour-over, French press, percolator and cold brew. It is a good fit for drinkers who want a smooth, darker cup without the burnt edge of many dark roasts.

Best for

Drinkers who want a darker roast that is not burnt
Southern-style drip and percolator coffee
Coffee with milk or cream

What we like

Smooth medium-dark roast with low acidity
100% Arabica from a family-owned roaster
Sold direct and in bulk 20 to 40 oz bags
Brand lists percolator, drip, pour-over, French press and cold brew

Watch-outs

No origin details or roast date on the bag
Full body and medium-dark roast may be too heavy for light-roast fans
The 12 oz bag costs more per ounce than the 20 to 40 oz bags

Flavor profile

What it tastes like.

In the roaster’s words

“This perfectly balanced blend showcases both a smooth, medium body and sweet, flavorful profile. We roast this coffee to a medium-dark color to bring out nutty notes with hints of caramel and cocoa.”

Caramel
Cocoa Powder

acidity
body
sweetness
bitterness

LightMediumDark

How it scored

The breakdown.

7.4Good

Cup score out of 10, weighted across five factors.

Flavor & cup quality30%7.5
A smooth, full-bodied medium-dark cup with caramel, cocoa and nutty notes; tasters find it strong without harshness but not complex.
Quality & freshness20%7.4
100% Arabica, cupped five times by Q graders through sourcing and roasting, though bags carry no roast date.
Value20%8.3
About $0.44 a cup at 15 g per cup from the $9.99 12 oz bag, and less in the 32 and 40 oz bags.
Sourcing & transparency15%6.0
Says it ethically sources 100% of its coffee and funds World Coffee Research, but names no origins or third-party certification beyond OU kosher.
Community love15%7.6
A beloved Gulf South staple with loyal fans; national coverage is thinner and some reviewers find it ordinary.

Creator video reviews

Watch it in action.

2 positive1 critical

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What people are saying

From the forums.

Verbatim from Reddit, forums and long-term owner write-ups — linked so you can read the full thread.

“the more traditional blends have a decently strong taste without coming off as harsh”

Brandon RichTasting Table · 2024-10

Details

The particulars.

Species: Arabica
Format: Ground
Caffeine: Regular
Ingredients: 100% Arabica Coffee
Best brewed as: Drip machine, Pour-over, French press, Cold brew
Certifications: Kosher
Typical price: $9.99 for 12 oz (checked October 2026)
Servings: ≈ 23 cups at 15 g per cup (brand-site price; the 40 oz bag is $26.99)

Official product page

Community

Member tasting notes & discussion.

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0 member ratings

Discussion

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FAQ

Good questions.

What roast is Community Café Special?

Community Coffee lists Café Special as a medium-dark roast with full body and medium-low brightness. Its tasting notes are caramel, cocoa and nutty.

How much Café Special should I use?

The bag directions call for 2 heaping tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounces of filtered water.

Is Café Special 100% Arabica?

Yes. Community Coffee lists the ingredient as 100% Arabica coffee and says all its blends use Arabica beans.

Sources (6)

Alternatives

Café Special Medium-Dark Roast Ground Coffee (12 oz)

What it tastes like.

The breakdown.

Watch it in action.

From the forums.

The particulars.

Member tasting notes & discussion.

Discussion

Good questions.

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