Dark Matter Coffee began its journey in 2007 when founder Jesse Diaz established Star Lounge Coffee Bar in Chicago's Ukrainian Village neighborhood. In February 2008, Dark Matter Coffee was officially launched with a mission to educate the community on how to roast, brew, serve, taste, and appreciate quality coffee. The company describes itself as "Interplanetary Dealers of Funky Coffee" with a philosophy rooted in being "the gravitational resistance rooted in skill and philosophy." Dark Matter is an innovative culinary family fueled by community and passion, committed to delivering intellectually honest coffee experiences. Dark Matter Coffee has strong ties to artistic and musical expression, which forms the bedrock of their culture. They view their coffee shops as albums, with each location representing a new era of creation and every coffee release being a track in their anthology. This unique approach has allowed them to build a distinctive brand identity that resonates with their community. Their producing partners in El Salvador and Guatemala share over a decade-long relationship with DMC, providing an intimate view of the coffee production process from seed to maturity. This close connection to their sources emphasizes their commitment to quality and understanding the complete journey of their coffee. Dark Matter has expanded to multiple locations throughout Chicago, each with its own unique character and design: The Mothership (their headquarters and roastery), Star Lounge, Osmium, Meddle, Electric Mud, Caravanserai, Soft Parade, Sleep Walk Chocolateria, and their newest location in New York City called ¡Adios Amigos! The company is known for their distinctive coffee blends and creative collaborations, reinforcing their reputation as an innovative force in the specialty coffee industry. Their approach balances science and creativity while maintaining a deep commitment to community and sustainability.
2008
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Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$26.00 · $2.17/oz
Nutella • Graham Cracker • Lemon Tea
Anthrax - Cursum Perficio pairs washed Nicaraguan Catuai with Pacas Family Bourbon and Pacas from El Salvador. Chocolatey with a citrus lift as it cools — Nutella, graham cracker, and lemon tea in a thrash-ready Chicago roast.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$24.00 · $2.00/oz
Baker's Chocolate • Toasted Marshmallow • Almond
Charlie Benante's The Devil You Know is Anthrax drummer energy in a dark roast — full-bodied berry sweetness balancing baker's chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and almond. Bold, fragrant, and built for pastry or a donut with thrash on.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$27.00 · $2.25/oz
Crimson Canal Pt. Two blends washed Peru from Valleinca near Cusco with Pacas Family Salvadoran Bourbon and Pacas. Creamy and approachable — earthy depth, dried-fruit lift, and chocolate sweetness for a reading-chair cup.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$25.00 · $2.08/oz
Nectarine • Molasses • Pomegranate
Get the Fuck Out of Bed is the Martin Atkins wake-up collab — washed Colombian Santa Barbara with honey Bourbon and Pacas from Cafe Tuxpal. Nectarine, molasses, and pomegranate for entrepreneurs who mean wake up.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$26.00 · $2.17/oz
Black Currant • Cocoa Nibs • Panela
Gloria is Dark Matter Coffee's annual blend, bright and fruit-forward. Natural Pacas Family lots from El Salvador meet washed Honduras from Finca La Fortuna — black currant, cocoa nibs, and panela in a Chicago roast.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$27.00 · $2.25/oz
Chocolate Covered Cherry • Roasted Almonds • Molasses
Janis Joplin leans throwback — washed Colombian Santa Barbara roasted with more heat, paired with washed Sarchimor from Pacas Family Cafe Tuxpal. Chocolate covered cherry, roasted almonds, and molasses in a sixties coffeehouse mood.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$26.00 · $2.17/oz
Dark Chocolate • Burnt Sugar • Dried Fruit
Marky Ramone's Bowery Beat! stacks washed Guatemalan Catuai with juicy Colombian Santa Barbara. Dark chocolate, burnt sugar, and dried fruit — a bold, approachable collab cup with proceeds aimed at music education.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$27.00 · $2.25/oz
Raul Sisniega x Machete folds Central American coffees into Dark Matter's barrel-aged program. Approachable boozy sweetness from rotating barrels — a psychedelic middle ground between fully barrel-aged lots and everyday portfolio cups.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$27.00 · $2.25/oz
Varieties
green grape • maple • melon
Rise Against is a washed El Salvador Sarchimor from Cafe Tuxpal in Santa Ana, roasted by Dark Matter Coffee in Chicago. Green grape, maple, and melon in the cup. A portion of each sale supports Rise Against's All Rise Together project.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$23.00 · $1.92/oz
Plum • Dark Chocolate • Floral
¡Sin Cafeína! is Dark Matter's Swiss Water Colombian decaf — plum, dark chocolate, and floral without the buzz. Chemical-free waters process, finger-lickin' portfolio caffeine-free coffee that still wants you to say hi.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$55.00 · $1.56/oz
Pear • Vanilla • Almond
Starry Eyes 1kg is Dark Matter's premiere dark roast — caramelized sugars, molasses and baker's chocolate depth with pear, vanilla, and almond. Heavier sibling energy to A Love Supreme, built for cream or a dash of sugar.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$25.00 · $2.08/oz
Vanilla • Apricot • Caramel
Street Magic is Dark Matter's September limited — washed Pacas from Santa Petrona in El Salvador with a stone-fruit Peruvian lot from Café Orígenes. Vanilla, apricot, and caramel for hot or iced neighborhood sipping.
Dark Matter Coffee • Chicago, IL
$55.00 · $1.56/oz
Dutch Cocoa • Cherry • Praline
Unicorn Blood 1kg is a Northern Italian-inspired espresso blend — walnut aroma, creamy peanut-butter body, and milk-chocolate finish. Dutch cocoa, cherry, and praline keep shots mild-acid and comfort-forward, pull after pull.