Ask us which roast to start with and we'll usually point you toward Cruise. Ask us which one people actually stick with, and it's Peak, our bestseller, and the roast most of our regulars keep reordering.
What makes Peak our signature roast
Peak is a medium roast built from Brazil, El Salvador, and India, all sourced above 1,500 metres. The result is a full-bodied cup with caramel, dark chocolate, and hazelnut notes, more depth and weight than Cruise, without tipping into the boldness of a dark roast. It's the roast that best represents what we're trying to do at Altura, versatile, well-balanced, and genuinely satisfying whether you're drinking it black or with milk.
Why it's become the bestseller
Part of it is versatility. Peak holds its own in a French press, works beautifully as a flat white, and doesn't lose character when brewed through a basic drip machine. It's forgiving in a way that makes it easy to recommend to almost anyone, whether they're deep into speciality coffee or just want a genuinely good everyday cup. Our brewing guide has ratios and technique if you want to get the most out of it.
Where the origins come in
The same Brazil and El Salvador origins used in Peak also form the base for Ascent, our dark roast, just taken further in the roast. That's a deliberate choice. It means you can taste how the same beans change character depending on roast level, Peak keeps things balanced and bright, Ascent pushes toward bittersweet and bold.
Speciality grade, no exceptions
Like every Altura bean, Peak is 100% speciality Arabica, scored 80 or above on the SCA's cupping scale. We explain what that scoring actually means and why altitude matters so much in this deeper dive into speciality coffee. Peak doesn't get a lower bar just because it's the bestseller, if anything, it's the roast we're most careful about getting right.
Roasted fresh, every time
Being the bestseller means Peak moves the most, but we still roast it to order rather than keeping large batches sitting around. Fresh roast dates matter for flavour no matter how popular a coffee is.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Peak your bestselling coffee?
It's versatile and well-balanced, full-bodied enough to satisfy but not so bold it's polarising. It works well brewed almost any way, which makes it an easy everyday choice.
Is Peak the same beans as Ascent?
They share the same Brazil and El Salvador origins, but Ascent is roasted darker, giving it a bolder, more bittersweet profile compared to Peak's balanced caramel and hazelnut notes.
What does Peak taste like?
Caramel, dark chocolate, and hazelnut, with a full body. It's a medium roast, so it holds onto more origin character than a darker roast while still feeling rich and satisfying.
Our bestseller for a reason.
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