Gunflint Trail blend, 12 oz bag, front of bag
Gunflint Trail blend, 4 lb bag, front of bag
Ember Coffee 12 oz bag, back label with Minnesota map
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Pouring Ember Coffee at a lakeside campsite, lifestyle
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Gunflint Trail blend, 4 oz sample bag, front of bag
Gunflint Trail blend, 12 oz bag, front of bag
Gunflint Trail blend, 4 lb bag, front of bag
Ember Coffee 12 oz bag, back label with Minnesota map
Ember Coffee bag on a breakfast tray with eggs, toast and a mug, lifestyle
Ember Coffee five-star customer review graphic, A Clear Upgrade
Ember Coffee bag with feature icons graphic
Ember Coffee customer satisfaction stats graphic, 4.8 out of 5 average rating
Pouring Ember Coffee from a kettle in a kitchen, lifestyle
Pouring Ember Coffee at a lakeside campsite, lifestyle
Ember Coffee Crafted with Purpose graphic
Roaster's Choice monthly rotation graphic, Fresh Finds Monthly
Ember Coffee brewing guide graphic, hot coffee and cold brew
Ember Coffee bag with ingredient icons graphic
Gunflint Trail blend, 4 oz sample bag, front of bag
Gunflint Trail blend, 12 oz bag, front of bag
Gunflint Trail blend, 4 lb bag, front of bag
Ember Coffee 12 oz bag, back label with Minnesota map
Ember Coffee bag on a breakfast tray with eggs, toast and a mug, lifestyle
Ember Coffee five-star customer review graphic, A Clear Upgrade
Ember Coffee bag with feature icons graphic
Ember Coffee customer satisfaction stats graphic, 4.8 out of 5 average rating
Pouring Ember Coffee from a kettle in a kitchen, lifestyle
Pouring Ember Coffee at a lakeside campsite, lifestyle
Ember Coffee Crafted with Purpose graphic
Roaster's Choice monthly rotation graphic, Fresh Finds Monthly
Ember Coffee brewing guide graphic, hot coffee and cold brew
Ember Coffee bag with ingredient icons graphic
Gunflint Trail blend, 4 oz sample bag, front of bag
Gunflint Trail

Coffee Keynote Descriptor

Notes of dark chocolate, cardamom

"I don't do reviews. But I hid this from my ice house buddies so they'd stop drinking it all. That says enough."

Todd E. VERIFIED BUYER

Best Used For

Filter
Espresso
Cold Brew
Moka Pot
Grind
Size

Legitimate medium dark roast (into second crack, oils surfacing) using Indian washed coffee's unique spice character. S-795 and Selection 9 are Arabica-Liberica hybrids bred for India's conditions, they possess robustness that handles extreme development without collapsing or tipping.

Washed processing creates clean darkness: chocolate and spice without muddiness. Cardamom and clove notes intensify with roast rather than disappearing. This is intentional darkness, craft quality with bold character.

Start with a 1:16 ratio, 1 gram of coffee to 16 grams of water. That's the sweet spot for balanced flavor and body. Pour-over and drip stay close to 1:16. Go 1:15 for more richness, or 1:17 for a lighter cup.

French press does well a little stronger at 1:14 to 1:15. AeroPress can go tighter too, around 1:12 to 1:15. Use filtered water, grind fresh, and drink it right after brewing.

Air roasting uses clean, hot air to roast each bean evenly. You get a smoother, cleaner flavor without the bitterness or burnt taste that comes from traditional drum roasting. No hot metal contact means no smoky aftertaste.

It's a gentler process that brings out what's actually in the bean. The origin flavors and nuanced notes that heavy roasting covers up.

100% Specialty Arabica Coffee

HERE'S THE DEEP DIVE ON

Gunflint Trail

About the Producer

Grown in Tamil Nadu's hill country between 1,000 and 1,350 meters. The varietals here, S-795 and Selection 9, are Arabica-Liberica hybrids developed for India's growing conditions. They're sturdy plants that produce dense, resilient beans, which is exactly what you want for a dark roast. These beans hold their structure through second crack without falling apart.

Washed process. Direct trade. We roast this to 445 degrees, where oils surface and the spice notes sharpen. The cup gives you dark chocolate, cardamom, cedar, and brown sugar. Heavy body, bold flavor, built for people who want their coffee to show up strong.

About the Coffee

Loading flavor profile...
ROAST

Roast Level

How long (and at what temperature) the beans stay in the roaster. This affects everything— how sweet, how bold, how bright your cup tastes. Here's the thing though: "light," "medium," and "dark" mean something different at every roastery. There's no universal standard. So when we say medium roast, we're speaking our own language. Think of our scale as a guide to our approach—smooth, balanced, never burnt.

Light & Bright Dark & Bittersweet
ACIDITY

Acidity

Not sour. Not harsh. Think brightness—like the difference between a ripe peach and a green one. Lower acidity means the coffee leans sweeter, softer. Higher acidity brings more vibrancy, more of that crisp, lively quality. Our air-roasted beans tend to land on the gentler side. That's intentional. We want your morning to feel like a deep breath, not a jolt.

Soft & Subtle Crisp & Bright
INTENSITY

Intensity

This is about how the coffee lands. The weight of it on your tongue. How concentrated the flavors feel. A lower intensity is lighter, more delicate—easy to drink without thinking. Higher intensity means bold, full, the kind of cup that announces itself. Neither is better. It's just about what you're craving and what your morning needs from you.

Mellow Bold

Dark roast, pushed into second crack until the oils surface. Indian washed coffee has a spice character that sharpens with development instead of burning off. Cardamom and clove come through stronger the darker you go. Most beans lose their identity at this level. This one leans into it.

Dark chocolate anchors the cup. Washed processing keeps everything clean, bold flavor with definition. Air roasting lets us push this far without scorching, so you get the intensity without the ashy bitterness.

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Frequently Asked Questions

It’s all in the roast. While most coffee is drum-roasted, which means the beans are scorched as they come in contact with the hot sides of the metal drum. In contrast, we use superheated air for heat transfer—a method used by less than 1% of roasters worldwide. It delivers smoother, more balanced flavor with zero burnt bitterness.

Our air-roasting process reduces acidity and eliminates that harsh, burnt bitterness found in most coffees. That means no gut-bomb effect, no acid reflux, and no regret after your second cup. Even customers who’ve sworn off coffee come back for Ember.

Crazy fresh. We roast in small batches right here in Minnesota and ship quickly—so your beans haven’t been sitting on a shelf for months losing flavor. You’ll taste the difference the moment you open the bag. Plus we stamp our bags with the roast date, not the "best buy" date. Note: Most coffees actually improve in taste in the two weeks following its roast date. If you receive a bag that was roasted 7-10 days from your date of order, we've likely held it to allow for off-gassing and maximum flavor.

We believe great coffee starts at the source. That’s why we build direct trade relationships with farmers who care as much as we do. Better pay for them, better beans for you, and a whole lot more integrity in your cup.

Yes, yes, and yes. Whether you’re team drip, AeroPress, Chemex, or full-on espresso, Ember’s roasts are engineered to perform across all brew methods without losing flavor, depth, or smoothness.

Because once you taste coffee that’s roasted right, sourced right, and doesn’t wreck your stomach… it’s game over for the grocery store brands and chain coffee shops. Ember becomes the new standard.

Our commitment to transparent pricing

Yes, our coffee costs more. Here's exactly where that money goes-and where it doesn't. Big Coffee charges less by paying farmers poverty wages and cutting corners on quality, then pockets 40% profit. We take 12% profit. The extra you pay goes to farmers and doing things right.

$5.00
to the farmer per bag

Fair wages let farmers invest in quality, sustainability, and their communities.

$0.75
to the farmer per bag

Poverty wages. Big Coffee pockets $6.00 profit instead

Big Coffee pockets more than you think.

The $5 difference in store price isn't our profit-it's their livelihood.

Science-Backed Ingredients

We only use Arabica beans that score 80 or above on the Specialty Coffee Association scale—their standard for exceptional flavor and cleanliness. These tend to be grown at higher elevations and harvested by hand. In our experience, starting with a better bean matters more than anything else we do.
Every lot we roast meets SCA’s rigorous grading system, which evaluates 10 key attributes—like aroma, acidity, balance, and aftertaste. Each batch is cupped, scored, and traceable, ensuring not just quality, but integrity at every step. This isn't marketing fluff—it’s a globally respected benchmark for true specialty coffee. We source, roast, and brew with purpose—so you get a cup you can count on.
We test our coffees for mold before and after roasting. And while we cannot make a medical claim about what that means for you, but a lot of people who have had trouble with other coffees tell us they do fine with ours, and that it doesn't bother their stomachs (especially helpful for folks struggling with GERD).
Specialty Grade Beans
Graded for Excellence
Certified Mold-Free

Specialty-Grade Coffee, Delicious Taste

Gunflint Trail blend, 12 oz bag, front of bag

We only roast the top 5% of beans in the world—carefully selected for clarity, character, and consistency. When you start with exceptional quality, you don't need shortcuts. Every cup begins with a promise: good beans, done right.

We partner with producers who prioritize fair wages, sustainable practices, and long-term relationships. From seed to sip, this coffee is as good for the growers as it is for you. Because doing it right means doing it together.

Air roasting unlocks the bean’s full aroma and complexity—think vibrant notes that actually reflect the origin. It’s a cleaner, more expressive cup that delights your senses from the first inhale to the last warm sip—so you actually taste the coffee's origin and not just the burntness of the roaster drum.

Most roasters use scorching-hot drums that can leave bitter, smoky notes. We air roast with precision and patience—preserving delicate flavors and skipping the scorch. The result? Coffee that’s smooth, never harsh, and always easy on your taste buds.

Air roasting reduces acidity and surface oils, making Ember coffee gentler on digestion. It’s a clean, smooth experience—even black—that doesn’t leave you with jitters or heartburn. Just calm energy and a ritual you can feel good about.

Over
20,000
bags of Ember Coffee sold
and here’s what they’re saying

Subscribe to Ember Coffee
and feel the benefits

Immediately

Your order joins our fresh roast plan—no stale beans, just coffee roasted specifically for you.

In a few days

Freshly roasted beans rest and off-gas, unlocking full flavor, smoothness, and a clean finish.

Within 7 days

Delivered to your door—thoughtfully packed, perfectly timed, and ready to brew your best cup yet.

Coffee Made Thoughtfully

Column 2 Image
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Coffee Quality
Specialty Grade
Unknown Origins
Air Roasted
Low Acidity
Ethically Sourced
Full Traceability
Small Business
The Difference
Rooted in values, roasted with heart, and delivered fresh for real life.
Mass-made with little thought and even less flavor.

Crafted in the North. Shared Nationwide.

Timeline line
Ember Coffee is Born

Ember Coffee is Born

We opened our Big Lake coffeeshop and roastery and launched our first full production run. Built by family, led by women, and grounded in the values of the North—humble, honest, and quietly exceptional.

Winning Minnesota's Best

Winning Minnesota's Best

We were honored as Gold Winner for Best Coffee, Coffeehouse, and MN-Made Product for FOUR years in a row (2023–2026). No gimmicks—just fresh air-roasted coffee, crafted with care and shared by a community that truly feels like home.

20,000 Bags Sold

20,000 Bags Sold

With over 20,000 bags brewed, Ember continues to grow—without ever growing out of what matters. We roast with purpose, deliver with heart, and help make your mornings more meaningful.

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews

Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 56 reviews.

I brew it as a strong drip and add the tiniest splash of cream. Dark chocolate and cardamom shine through. Smooth, heavy, satisfying.

Gunflint Trail

The cardamom note makes it interesting, very different from my usual dark blends. Chocolate is deep and the finish is clean. Air roasting clearly makes a difference.

Gunflint Trail

My wife says it smells like a fancy spice cabinet. I say it tastes like dark chocolate and cardamom with a clean finish. We both agree it's excellent.

Gunflint Trail

Air roasting is the secret sauce. This dark roast has depth and spice without any scorched taste. Dark chocolate and cardamom for days.

Gunflint Trail

Rich flavor but not bitter

Gunflint Trail

Store owner replied: Hi Nancy! Thanks for this great review, we're happy to hear you've been able to tell a difference in our air roasting process. It makes for a smooth cup without the burnt bitterness, and we're glad to know that came through in your cup.

This wakes you up by existing. Dark chocolate, cardamom, heavy body, almost no acidity. It's rugged like the name. Perfect for before the sun comes up.

Gunflint Trail

Rugged and smoky, exactly as advertised. Dark chocolate anchors it and the cardamom adds a surprise layer. Just enough sweetness from the brown sugar notes.

Gunflint Trail

Finally a dark roast that didn't get scorched. The Indian beans hold up, you taste chocolate and cardamom instead of charcoal. Great way to start the day.

Gunflint Trail

This is a stout, confident cup. Dark chocolate up front, cardamom and cedar behind, brown sugar on the finish. No bitterness. I'm sold.

Gunflint Trail

I've burned through a lot of dark roasts looking for one like this. Chocolate and spice, bold but clean, no ashy aftertaste. This is the one.

Gunflint Trail

There's actual definition in this cup. You taste dark chocolate, then cedar, then that spice note. Most dark roasts are mud, this one has structure.

Gunflint Trail

Roasted hard without scorching, you can taste the difference. Dark chocolate and spice, heavy body, zero ash. My French press dark roast is solved.

Gunflint Trail

My early mornings got a serious upgrade. Dark chocolate and cardamom, rich and smooth, no bitterness. Gunflint Trail shows up strong every single time.

Gunflint Trail

I drink it black and it's smooth enough to skip cream. Dark chocolate, cardamom, a little cedar. Very low acid, which my stomach thanks me for.

Gunflint Trail

Cold mornings, wool socks, and a cup of Gunflint. Dark chocolate and cardamom, heavy and warm. Almost no acid. It's my little morning ritual.

Gunflint Trail

Bold as heck but clean. You get dark chocolate and a spice note that lingers. Heavy body, hardly any acid. This is a big-boy coffee, no apology.

Gunflint Trail

This is the coffee equivalent of a bear hug. Big, warm, a little spice, zero nonsense. Dark chocolate and cardamom, heavy body, no acidity.

Gunflint Trail

Second crack done right. Oils on the surface, bold flavor, zero burnt taste. Dark chocolate, cardamom, cedar. Heavy body, almost no acidity. Rebuying.

Gunflint Trail

I like my coffee dark and this is properly dark. Chocolate, cardamom, cedar, brown sugar. No acidity, no ash. It shows up strong and leaves clean.

Gunflint Trail

I was nervous about a very dark roast being bitter. It's not bitter at all. Dark chocolate, cardamom, brown sugar, heavy body. Fantastic dark roast.

Gunflint Trail

Big cup of dark chocolate with a cardamom twist. It's sturdy, low acid, and wakes me up better than my alarm. Gunflint Trail is aptly named.

Gunflint Trail

Ordered for my partner who only drinks dark roast and he declared it the good stuff. Dark chocolate, cardamom, smooth, no ash. High praise from him.

Gunflint Trail

I gifted the coffee and glasses to my brother-in-law and family. (I broke his glass when I was visiting 😏). I think they loved getting a gift from Ember in the mail!

Gunsmoke

Store owner replied: Eighteen orders and now you're recruiting your brother-in-law's whole family? Susan, you are singlehandedly building the Ember empire in Saint Paul. Gunsmoke is a power move gift, too. Great pick.

The Gunsmoke coffee is delicious!

Gunsmoke

Store owner replied: We are so glad you like it!❤️

Perfect for a moka pot. Comes out thick and chocolatey with that cardamom spice. Strong but smooth. Best dark blend I've tried this year.

Gunflint Trail

Not for the light roast fans, and that's fine by me. Dark chocolate, spice, heavy body, barely any acidity. Coffee that means business.

Gunflint Trail

Huge fan of all you do! You have wonderful coffees.

Gunsmoke

Store owner replied: We are so glad you like it!❤️

This is what I wanted when I asked for a dark roast. Chocolate forward, spicy undertone, clean finish, zero ashtray flavor. Gunflint nails it.

Gunflint Trail

I like my coffee to fight back and this one does. Deep dark chocolate, a little spice, clean finish with no ashy bitterness. Best dark roast I've had in a while.

Gunflint Trail

The cardamom and clove notes are present without being too much. Dark chocolate base is solid. Heavy body and low acid make it an easy dark to love.

Gunflint Trail

Tastes like a campfire story in a mug. Dark chocolate and cardamom, rugged but smooth, no sharp acidity. A cold-weather essential for sure.

Gunflint Trail

Gunsmoke is actually very good!! I would order this again in a heart beat! Thank you!!

Gunsmoke

Store owner replied: Thanks so much, Cherie! We're thrilled Gunsmoke is a winner for you. Can't wait to send you more! ☕

Pretty good! LOVE "Get Up!"

Gunsmoke

Store owner replied: Thanks, Peggy! We're so glad you enjoyed Gunsmoke! Appreciate you! ☕

Ordered because I wanted a dark roast that didn't taste like an ashtray. This delivered. Dark chocolate and cardamom, clean, rich, no ash. Perfect.

Gunflint Trail

I taste dark chocolate first, then cardamom and a little clove, then brown sugar. It's complex for a dark roast. Goes great with oatmeal or eggs.

Gunflint Trail

This is the strong coffee I've been trying to find. Bold chocolate, cardamom spice, no bitterness. It doesn't just wake you up, it sets your posture.

Gunflint Trail

Cardamom in coffee, who knew. It works, especially with the dark chocolate. Smooth despite the dark roast, no bitterness. Gunflint is my new work coffee.

Gunflint Trail

I grind coarse and use a pour-over, comes out rich and clean. Dark chocolate with that cardamom spice and just a hint of sweetness. Really good.

Gunflint Trail

The spice character from the Indian beans is real. Cardamom and clove come through, dark chocolate underneath. Heavy, bold, but clean. Impressive.

Gunflint Trail

Finally a dark roast with actual flavor left in it. Chocolate, cardamom, cedar, brown sugar. Bold and clean. None of that bitter charcoal nonsense.

Gunflint Trail

Gunflint Trail