Donnie Darko – Classic Espresso Blend Roasted in Ireland

Some mornings call for bright ideas and delicate little tasting notes. Others call for Donnie Darko.

This is our darker, richer and more traditional espresso blend, built from coffees grown in Brazil, Uganda and Tanzania. It is full-bodied, chocolate-forward and unapologetically comforting, with tasting notes of Chocolate, Praline and Dark Fruits.

Brazil brings the smooth chocolate and caramel foundation. Uganda adds body, baker’s chocolate and dark fruit, while Tanzania brings another layer of depth and fruit to the finish.

Familiar enough to drink every day. Interesting enough to keep you awake in more ways than one.

Coffee Details

• Blend: Brazil 50%, Uganda 25% and Tanzania 25%

• Origins: Brazil, Uganda and Tanzania

• Brazil region: Monte Belo, South of Minas, Minas Gerais

• Uganda region: Bugisu, Mount Elgon

• Varieties: Catuai, Mundo Novo, SL14, SL28 and regional Tanzanian varieties

• Altitude: Approximately 800–2,100 MASL

• Processes: Natural and Washed

• Roasted for: Espresso

• Tasting notes: Chocolate, Praline and Dark Fruits

• Character: Rich, smooth and full-bodied

Why Donnie Darko Works

• Deep chocolate and praline sweetness.

• Full-bodied with low, balanced acidity.

• Dark fruit complexity without losing its classic espresso character.

• Strong enough to cut beautifully through milk.

• Smooth and satisfying as a straight espresso.

• A dependable choice for homes, offices and busy cafés.

• Particularly effective during strange mornings and unusually long nights.

Three Origins. One Darkly Delicious Espresso.

Donnie Darko brings together three distinctive coffee-growing origins, each chosen to play a specific part in the final cup.

Brazil – 50%

The foundation of the blend comes from Monte Belo, in the hills of South of Minas in the state of Minas Gerais.

This coffee is produced by a large group of small, family-run farms growing primarily Catuai and Mundo Novo. Many of these producers pool their coffee and resources, giving farms that are too small to operate independently access to the equipment and infrastructure needed to prepare and sell larger lots.

The farms sit at altitudes ranging from approximately 800 to 1,400 metres above sea level. The coffee is naturally processed, creating the full body, chocolate character and caramel-like sweetness that form the backbone of Donnie Darko.

Buying this coffee helps small producers continue supporting their families and surrounding communities through coffee farming.

Uganda – 25%

The Ugandan component comes from Bugisu in the volcanic highlands surrounding Mount Elgon.

Produced by smallholder family farms working with the Kawacom Sipi Falls Arabica Coffee Project, this washed Arabica is grown at approximately 1,800–2,100 metres above sea level. The project was established in 1999 and now works with thousands of farming families across the region.

The fertile volcanic soils, moderate temperatures and consistent rainfall create excellent conditions for the SL14 and SL28 varieties grown here.

In the cup, the Bugisu coffee brings baker’s chocolate, blackcurrant, cooked plum and a gentle hint of black pepper. Its full body, low acidity and natural sweetness make it a perfect fit for a rich espresso blend.

The project also supports improved farming practices, sustainable land management and long-term quality development throughout the region.

Tanzania – 25%

The Tanzanian coffee completes the blend, adding another layer of dark fruit, depth and structure.

It lifts the heavier chocolate character of the Brazilian and Ugandan coffees without turning Donnie Darko into a bright or overly fruity espresso. Instead, it gives the finish a little more complexity and keeps the blend balanced, smooth and alive.

Three origins moving in the same direction — even if nobody is entirely sure what direction that is.

Tasting Notes: Chocolate, Praline and Dark Fruits

Donnie Darko opens with rich chocolate and roasted praline sweetness. As it cools, darker fruit flavours begin to appear, giving the coffee a smooth but complex finish.

In milk, it becomes creamy, nutty and chocolatey. As a straight espresso, you will find more of the dark fruit and subtle spice from the East African coffees.

It is a classic espresso profile with just enough strangeness hiding underneath.

Brewing Donnie Darko

For a double espresso, we recommend starting with:

• Dose: 18g

• Yield: 36–40g

• Time: 20 - 22 seconds

Use this as a starting point and adjust your grind to suit your machine and taste. A slightly longer extraction will bring out more chocolate and praline sweetness, while a shorter ratio will give you a heavier, more intense shot.

Donnie Darko is especially good in flat whites, cappuccinos and lattes, where its chocolate and praline character carries clearly through the milk.

Freshly Roasted Espresso Delivered Across Ireland

We roast Donnie Darko fresh in Dublin and deliver throughout Ireland.

It is our answer to a proper, satisfying espresso: rich without tasting burnt, familiar without being forgettable and bold enough to hold its own in milk.

Whether you are brewing at home, supplying an office or serving coffee in a busy café, Donnie Darko is built to perform consistently cup after cup.

Why Choose Groundstate Coffee Roasters?

• Roasted fresh in Dublin.

• Free delivery in Ireland on orders over €35.

• Carefully sourced coffees from smallholder producers.

• Suitable for home, office and professional café equipment.

• Independent Irish coffee roastery established in 2018.

• Serious coffee for people who don’t take everything else too seriously.

Order Donnie Darko Espresso

If you like your espresso rich, chocolatey and just a little mysterious, step this way.

Order Donnie Darko and experience a full-bodied blend of Brazilian, Ugandan and Tanzanian coffees with tasting notes of Chocolate, Praline and Dark Fruits.

Groundstate Coffee Roasters — all the flavour, none of the predictable timelines.