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The 6 on this bag is neither a caffeine rating nor an industry grade; it marks where the beans sit on Taylors' own roast scale, at the very top. Everything in the cup, from the baking-chocolate depth to the smoky finish, follows from how far the roaster took them.
Six on a house scale
Taylors band their coffees on a roast strength scale printed on each bag, and Hot Lava Java beans are the darkest coffee in the range. The figure measures roast development, not caffeine, and it ranks Taylors coffees against each other rather than against anyone else's. What it does tell you holds true: a long, dark roast, a heavy body, and cocoa and treacle where a lighter roast would show fruit.
Taylors is a Yorkshire family firm, the same house behind Yorkshire Tea, and it treats a dark roast much as it treats a strong builder's brew: weight and consistency first, not delicate origin character. The result is an unashamedly heavy cup meant to be drunk with milk and blended to taste the same bag after bag. Harrogate is where the business was founded and roasts; for where these beans were grown, read the bag in your hand.
Why these beans want a grinder
Dark beans shed their aroma quickly once broken open, faster than a medium roast, so grinding at the last moment pays off more here than on a breakfast coffee. Cocoa, toasted bread and woodsmoke sit in the oil on the bean's surface; grind a week ahead and the cup keeps its flavour but loses most of its scent. A burr grinder is worth having, since a blade grinder makes fine dust that overbrews into bitterness.
No grinder? Then these are the wrong bag. The same coffee comes ready ground, and we would rather point you there than sell you beans you cannot open properly. With a grinder, a 200g bag gives roughly 28 cups at a 7g dose per 120ml, a sensible amount to get through while the beans are fresh.
Brewing the darkest roast
Keep the water around 94 degrees, which means a boiled kettle left about thirty seconds; a rolling boil scorches a dark roast and drags out the bitterness before the sweetness arrives. In a cafetiere, give it four minutes with the lid on, then press the plunger down gently and empty the pot at once. Because dark beans give up their flavour quicker, the extra minute you might allow a medium roast only adds bitterness here.
It stands up to milk rather than hiding behind it. Save it for cold, dark mornings; it is not an afternoon coffee to sit and ponder. Choose biscuits with plenty of chocolate to match its baking-chocolate depth, and let the woodsmoke finish linger between bites.
The packs we stock
- Taylors of Harrogate Hot Lava Java Roast 6 Coffee Beans, 200g (barcode 615357752511)
What the label says
The published ingredient list for Taylors of Harrogate Hot Lava Java Roast 6 Coffee Beans, 200g names none of the 14 major allergens. Check the current UK pack before purchase; formulations and allergen advice can change.
Ingredient and nutrition information for this product, as published on the manufacturer's label. The pack in your hands is the final word.
What to eat with it
- Maryland Cookies Double Chocolate, 200g: double chocolate for a coffee whose lead note is dark, slightly bitter chocolate.
- McVitie's Hobnobs Milk Choc Jumbo Pack Biscuits, 431g: oats and milk chocolate to soften a heavy, smoky mug taken with milk.
- Maryland Cookies S'wich Choc Creme Biscuits, 150g: a creamy chocolate filling that sits well against the dry woodsmoke finish.
Elsewhere in the Taylors of Harrogate range
- Taylors of Harrogate After Dark Roast Ground Coffee, 200g
- Taylors of Harrogate Brasilia Ground Coffee, 200g
- Taylors of Harrogate Decaffe Beans Roast Coffee, 200g
- Taylors of Harrogate Decaffe Ground, 10 Coffee Bags
- Taylors of Harrogate Decaffé Roast Ground Coffee, 200g
- Taylors of Harrogate Decaffeinated Yorkshire, 160 Tea Bags 500g
The full range is on the Taylors of Harrogate coffee page.
FAQ
What does Roast 6 mean on Taylors coffee? It is the top of the roast strength scale Taylors print on their own bags. It describes roast development rather than caffeine, and compares only Taylors coffees.
Do I need a grinder for Hot Lava Java beans? Yes, they are whole beans. Without one, the ready-ground bag of the same coffee is the better choice.
What water temperature suits a roast 6 coffee? Around 94 degrees. Boil the kettle, then give it about thirty seconds off the heat before pouring.
How many cups does the 200g bag make? About 28, at a 7g dose for each 120ml.
Why does my cafetiere of Hot Lava Java taste bitter? Usually too long or too hot. Stop at four minutes, use water off the boil and pour the pot off the grounds straight away.
Curator's note: Grind it fresh, pour at four minutes and add milk if you take it. It is a cold-morning coffee and at its best that way. Lee, teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.
In short: Taylors Hot Lava Java Roast 6 Beans: What the Top of the Scale Means
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Taylors of Harrogate |
| Packs we stock | 200g |
| Category | Coffee Beans |
| Allergens (as published) | The published ingredient list for this product names none of the 14 major allergens. |
| Caffeine | caffeinated |
| Roast | 6, the top of the Taylors scale |
| Needs | A grinder, ideally a burr grinder |
| Best with | Milk and a chocolate biscuit |
More from the tea wiki
- Yorkshire Tea: Range and Buying Guide
- Tea vs Coffee: Taste, Caffeine and Switching
- Caffeine in Tea
- Tea vs Coffee
- Tea for Coffee Drinkers: Where to Start
- Chai vs Coffee
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