Those rumors brewing across the land are true: Trader Joe’s French Roast has got a brand new bag! Brought to us by a new supplier, whose increased efficiencies (including the change to a bag, rather than a canister) allow us to offer this rich, super dark-roasted whole bean coffee for a signifcantly lower retail, our new French Roast is nothing if not buzz-worthy. It’s made with a blend of 100% Arabica beans from Peru and Brazil, which, when made into drip, pour-over, or even cold brew coffee, creates a rich, robust cup with notes of cacao, baking spice, and toasted pecans.

So, what precisely makes a coffee blend with Peruvian and Brazilian beans a French Roast? The “French” actually refers to the level of roast, rather than its geographical provenance. While food historians aren’t entirely certain when and where the term originated, it’s very likely a reference to the fact that, in the 19th century, super dark-roasted coffee was all the rage in French cafés. One sip of our French Roast, and it’s easy to see why: in addition to imparting a deep, dark hue to the beans, the extra roasting time also intensifies its sweet, chocolatey aromatics, and heightens the nuttiness and spice on the palate.