Why do you only roast one bean?

We believe focus produces better results. Instead of offering a long list of average beans, we spend our energy finding one exceptional bean each year and roasting it as well as we possibly can. That single-minded approach is what allows us to deliver the smoothness and flavor we’re known for.

What does “estate bean” actually mean?

True estate beans come from one specific farm where the owner controls growing, harvesting, processing, and exporting. The coffee plants, pickers, and processing facilities can literally be seen from the owner’s home. This gives far more consistency and quality control than most coffee on the market.

How is this different from regular single-origin coffee?

The term “single origin” has been watered down. Today it often just means the beans came from the same region and were blended by a co-op. Our Hacienda La Minita beans are true estate coffee — unblended and fully controlled by one farm. That’s a much higher standard.

Is this coffee low-acid and good for sensitive stomachs?

Yes. One of the main reasons we chose this bean is its exceptionally smooth, low-acid profile. Many of our customers who struggle with acidity in other coffees tell us this is the one they can drink comfortably.

How fresh is the coffee when I receive it?

We roast every Tuesday morning and ship the same day. In most cases your coffee is on its way to you within three hours of being roasted. Typically, our coffee arrives in 2-4 days. If you choose FedEx, the coffee might even still be warm (24-48 hours).

What’s the difference between this year’s bean and last year’s?

Both years we selected Hacienda La Minita estate beans. This year the chocolate and fruit have switched places. The front and middle are very smooth with well rounded fruit. Then the finish has a very noticeable chocolate note. Both last year and this year are excellent — this year’s just has a slightly different fruit character.

Do you offer subscriptions?

Yes. We offer flexible subscription options so you never run out of fresh coffee. You can easily pause, skip, or change your plan whenever you want.

(as of 7/26/26)

Smooth Medium Roast Coffee Beans

Low-Acid Costa Rican

Great medium roast coffee is roasted low-n-slow to a perfect medium brown — never pushed into charred territory. If you want that real, honest coffee taste with layers of chocolate and cherry that actually stick around, this is your bean. Medium roast is for the coffee nerds and the wannabes who know what’s up. Dark roast? That’s for everyone else. Sorry “darkies,” we still love you — but this is a completely different (and smoother) animal.

How Lake City Smooth Medium Roast Compares

Brand	Beans	Flavor Profile	Price (12oz)	Google Star Rating
Lake City Coffee Roasters	100% Costa Rican – Single Origin	Very smooth, low-acid, fruit notes, chocolate finnish	$24.95	5.0
Greenwll Farms	100% Kona Coffee – Single Origin	Smooth bright citrus, sweet caramel nutty chocolate notes	$28.00	4.7
Purity Coffee FLOW	Specialty-grad organic Arabica	Roasted nuts, dark chocolate, juicy apple-like high notes	$29.00	4.9
Paper Street Coffee PDA	Tanzania Single Origin (Geisha)	Dule de Leche, nuts, cocoa, florals, bright citrus	$27.99	4.9
Crest Coffee Roasters	Costa Rica – Hacienda La Amistad Single	Crisp green apples, honeydew melon, alnut, sage, dark chocolate	$25.00	4.7
Lifeboost Coffee	Single Origin Central America, Organic	Creamy, nutty, chocolate covered fig, hint of dried fruit, smooth, low-acid	$28.95	4.3-4.8

Hey there, coffee lovers! I’m Russell Volz from Lake City Coffee Roasters, and today we’re diving head-first into our Smooth Medium Roast — the one that actually tastes like coffee should, not like it got lost in a charcoal factory.

Here’s what Alisha and I do: we line up 20 to 30 different bean samples from the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica. Why Tarrazu? Because it’s basically the VIP lounge of smooth coffee — world-class beans that deliver ridiculous flavor without the acidity drama. If you want balance, richness, and zero “why did I drink that?” moments, this is the gold standard.

We spend an entire day taste-testing like absolute pros — swirling, sipping, spitting, and judging harder than a reality-TV panel — until we crown the single best one.

My not-so-secret weapon? My wife Alisha. She’s a trained wine sommelier, which means she’s got a nose and palate sharper than most baristas on their best day. She brings wine-level tasting skills to coffee, and thank goodness — without her we’d still be guessing.

The real beauty of this medium roast? It’s stupidly versatile. Got an espresso machine? Blend it with our dark roast and watch your taste buds throw a party. French press, AeroPress, cold brew — it shines everywhere.

Our process is dead simple and ridiculously effective:

We cherry-pick the absolute best beans.
We roast them low and slow to pull out those rich chocolate and bright cherry notes (and zero bitterness — we don’t do that here).
Then we cool ’em, weigh ’em, bag ’em, and seal ’em — often within minutes — so they’re on a truck the same day.

That means you’re getting premium beans, masterful roasting, and coffee that’s legitimately fresh — usually landing on your doorstep in just 24 to 72 hours. When it’s this good and this fresh, it’s honestly second to none.

These are straight from Hacienda La Minita estate — grown right in the owner’s backyard. That’s the kind of quality control that makes our coffee stand out year after year.

Russell & Alisha Picking Smooth Costa Rican Beans With Plantation Owners

Why We Obsess Over Tarrazu Costa Rica Beans

Each year Alisha and I bring in 20–30 different bean samples from the most prestigious plantations in Costa Rica’s Tarrazu Region. Why? Because this area is world-renowned for producing super-smooth beans loaded with chocolate notes.

Alisha — our professional coffee taste tester and wine sommelier — picks the very best. This year we landed on the Estate Beans from Hacienda La Minita. If you like chocolate and cherry with a finish that just won’t quit, you’re going to lose your mind over these.

Why Rainforest Alliance Certified Beats Institutionalized “Organic”

Look, “Organic” is nice — it means no synthetic pesticides. Cool. But we went with Rainforest Alliance Certified because it actually does a whole lot more.

Every bag of our Medium Roast comes from Hacienda La Minita, a Rainforest Alliance Certified estate in Costa Rica’s Tarrazu region. That certification means the farm protects wildlife corridors, conserves water, improves soil health, and pays workers fair wages with decent living conditions.

And the big reason we like it so much? You can actually taste the difference. If you couldn’t, we wouldn’t bother.

rain forest certified smooth dark raost coffee

AeroPress vs French Press: Head-to-Head Comparison

Why Our Low-Acid Medium Roast Is a Game-Changer for Sensitive Stomachs

Not only does it taste ridiculously good, but the ultra-low acidity is a legit game-changer if your stomach has ever given you grief (trust me — I’m one of those people). Here’s what you actually get:

No indigestion — drink it black, drink it strong, still feels gentle.
No acid reflux — you can actually enjoy a second cup without paying for it later.
No bloating — it just sits nicely.
No emergency bathroom runs — you know what I mean.
Way better tasting coffee (and you can actually drink more of it without regretting life choices).

How to Brew the Smoothest Medium Roast Coffee (It’s Almost Impossible to Screw Up)

With our medium roast it’s almost impossible to make a bad cup — the beans are just that forgiving.

My personal favorites are the methods that let the grounds steep with hot water for a while (goodbye forever, boring drip machines).

Best ways: • Cold Brew • AeroPress • French Press • Slow Pour-Over

Pro tip: Head over to our “Brewing Gear 101” page for my exact recommendations — the Red Rooster grinder, Bodum French Press, or AeroPress all turn these beans into pure smoothness.

Our Freshness Guarantee – Roasted This Morning, In Your Mug Tomorrow

The fresher the beans, the better the cup. Period.

That’s why we roast to order every Tuesday morning. The beans come out of the roaster, cool down, get weighed, double-sealed, and shipped that day.

You’re drinking coffee that was still hot less than 24–72 hours ago — fresher than almost anything you’ve ever bought in a store or online.

If it’s not that fresh when it lands on your doorstep, we’ll make it right. No questions asked.

Got Questions About Our Smooth Medium Roast? Fire Away

What is smooth medium roast coffee?

Roasted low and slow to a perfect medium brown so the bean’s natural oils stay intact. You get rich flavor without any bitterness sneaking in.

Is medium roast smoother than dark roast?

Generally yes — dark roast is almost always more bitter. But not here. Both our dark and medium have zero bitterness. Crank it strong and they still play nice.

What flavor notes are in your Costa Rican medium roast beans?

We pick from the Tarrazu Region because it’s famous for smooth, non-bitter beans with strong chocolate notes. This year’s Hacienda La Minita selection added a bright cherry finish that just keeps going. Chocolate + cherry = coffee heaven.

Are these low-acid medium roast beans good for sensitive stomachs?

Big yes. I suffered with indigestion and reflux for decades until I tried these. No issues. Our customers have been saying the same thing for 11 years.

How fresh are your medium roast beans?

Roast-to-order every Tuesday morning and shipped the same day. You’re getting beans that were still hot a day or two ago. That’s our quirky edge.

What are the best ways to brew smooth medium roast coffee?

Any method that lets the grounds steep: cold-brew, AeroPress, French press, or slow pour-over. Even button-pushers win with these beans.

Can I use these beans in an espresso machine?

Heck yeah. Espresso is a brewing method, not a bean. Blend with our dark or espresso roast if you want — customers do it all the time.

Do you have free shipping?

You bet. 3+ bags = free shipping. Want it faster? Add 7.95 for FedEx 1–2 day.

Meet Russell & Alisha Volz

At Lake City Coffee Roasters, we roast every Tuesday and ship the same day so your coffee arrives fresh. Alisha’s professionally trained palate (wine–sommelier) helps us select the smoothest, lowest-acid beans from Costa Rica’s Tarrazú region each year. You can also read more about how we got started in this Spokesman-Review feature.

If you’re looking for coffee that tastes great and is easy on your stomach, you’re in the right place.