BrewBench
Browse BrewBench

Coffee Reviewmedium roastlow-acid

Death Wish Medium Roast Review: The Sweet Spot for Bold Without Burnt

Death Wish Medium Roast looks like the easiest all-arounder in the lineup: smooth, low-acid, and bold enough to please dark-roast drinkers without tasting scorched.

83/100
ExcellentBrewBench Score
Buy — ~$15-20 / 14-16oz →
Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them, BrewBench earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. BrewBench scores are based on the best evidence available for each coffee: verified roaster notes, comparative research, and, when available, first-hand brewing. We never invent tasting notes to serve the payout.
OriginBlend
ProcessVaries by lot
Roastmedium
Price~$15-20 / 14-16oz
Aroma8/10
Flavor8/10
Balance8/10
Body8/10
Value9/10

Best for: Everyday drip drinkers · People who want smooth and bold without dark-roast ash · Budget-conscious whole-bean buyers

If the Dark Roast is the brand’s statement piece and the Light Roast is the surprise, the Medium Roast is probably the practical buy. Verified tasting notes point to stone fruit, caramel, roasted peanut, and a dark-chocolate finish — which is a fancy way of saying this coffee looks built to be smooth, a little sweet, and still bold enough for the average dark-roast drinker.

What to expect in the cup

The medium roast seems to split the lineup nicely. You get more sweetness and flexibility than the dark roast, but more body and comfort than the light roast. The dark-chocolate + caramel direction suggests a profile that’s still approachable with cream but should also hold up black without tasting scorched.

Importantly for your audience, this profile reads lower-acid and stomach-friendlier than a brighter specialty medium. If someone likes coffee but gets punished by tart, high-acid beans, this is the kind of roast that often lands in the sweet spot.

Where it fits

This is the Death Wish coffee that most naturally fills the “daily driver” lane. It doesn’t need the gimmick of being the darkest or strongest thing on the shelf — it just has to brew an easy, repeatable, crowd-pleasing cup. That’s valuable.

Who should buy it

  • You want a mainstream-friendly whole-bean coffee that still tastes like coffee, not hot brown water.
  • You prefer smooth and bold over bright and fruity.
  • You want something versatile across drip, auto brewer, and French press.

Who should skip it

  • You want the deepest, boldest Death Wish identity — in that case the Dark Roast still owns that lane.
  • You want a truly vivid, bright, fruit-led cup.

The verdict

This may end up being the most broadly appealing bag in the Death Wish lineup. Bold enough to satisfy, smooth enough to drink daily, and easier to recommend than the brand’s more theatrical products.

The Verdict — 83/100

Probably the easiest all-around Death Wish to recommend: smoother than the dark roast, still bold enough for mainstream tastes, and less likely to punish you with burnt bitterness.

Buy — ~$15-20 / 14-16oz →