Review · Beans and ground coffee
Taylors Hot Lava Java: what it is and which format to buy
Taylors' extra-dark Hot Lava Java blend: what Taylors says is in it, beans vs ground vs coffee bags, UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026, and similar dark roasts to try.
Taylors Hot Lava Java is the darkest of the Taylors of Harrogate house blends. Taylors calls it an extra-dark roast with hints of smoke and black pepper, gives it a roast number of 6 and says it’s “not for the coffee novice”. It comes as whole beans, ground coffee and coffee bags, and on 3 Oct 2026 the beans and ground packs were the same price at Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.
We haven’t tested this in person. This page is based on Taylors’ own product pages and Sainsbury’s and Morrisons listings, checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Taylors Hot Lava Java review: the short answer
Buy the beans if you have a grinder or an espresso machine. The 200g bag is £5.75 at Sainsbury’s and at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, and Taylors’ bean page includes a pump espresso guide.
Who it isn’t for: bean-to-cup owners who want a big bag. We only found 200g.
Get the ground coffee for a cafetière or filter machine. It’s also £5.75 for 200g at Sainsbury’s and at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: espresso machine owners. Taylors’ ground page doesn’t include an espresso guide.
Choose the coffee bags for work, travel or a single mug. The pack of 10 is £3.80 at Sainsbury’s, and £3.80 at Morrisons, all checked 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: anyone drinking several cups a day. Per kilo, the bags cost far more than the 200g packs.
Skip it if you like light, fruity coffee. Taylors’ Lazy Sunday, its lightest roast, is a better fit.
Who it isn’t for: this one is for dark-roast fans only.
What it costs right now
- Beans, 200g: £5.75 at Sainsbury’s and at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, which is £28.75 a kilo. See Hot Lava Java beans at Morrisons
- Ground, 200g: £5.75 at Sainsbury’s and at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, also £28.75 a kilo. See Hot Lava Java ground at Morrisons
- Coffee bags, 10 (75g): £3.80 at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026. Also £3.80 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026. That’s 38p a bag at full price.
Taylors’ site also lists Asda, Ocado, Tesco, Waitrose, Co-op and Amazon as stockists. We couldn’t check Tesco, Waitrose or Ocado prices because their sites blocked our checks on 3 Oct 2026.
What’s in Hot Lava Java
Taylors says the blend owes much of its character to beans grown in Indonesia, with supporting beans from India and Brazil. Unusually for Taylors, it isn’t all arabica: Taylors says it includes some robusta too.
For flavour, Taylors describes a smoky, peppery cup, and says the smokiness is subtler than the volcano on the pack suggests.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a 100% arabica coffee.
How strong is the roast
Taylors numbers its roasts from 3 to 6 across its house blends. Hot Lava Java is the only 6. Flying Start and After Dark are 5s, Rich Italian is a 4, and Lazy Sunday is a 3. The number tells you how dark the roast is. It isn’t a measure of quality. Our Taylors coffee beans guide lays out the full range.
Who it isn’t for: people who find dark roasts bitter. Start at roast 4 with Rich Italian instead.
How to brew it
Taylors gives brew guides on each product page:
- Cafetière: a tablespoon of coffee per mug, water left about a minute after boiling, then 4 to 5 minutes before you plunge. If you grind your own, Taylors says to use a coarse setting.
- Filter: two tablespoons, or about 60g per litre of water. Wet the coffee with twice its weight in water, wait 30 seconds, then pour the rest. It should take 2 to 3.5 minutes.
- AeroPress: a heaped tablespoon, filled to the “4” mark, stirred for 10 seconds, left for 90 seconds, then pressed.
- Pump espresso (beans page only): fill the portafilter almost to the top, tamp evenly and pull the shot for around 20 to 30 seconds.
- Coffee bags: one bag per mug, water a minute off the boil, swirl and squeeze, then four minutes.
If you need a cafetière-friendly ground coffee instead, see our best ground coffee for a cafetière guide.
Who it isn’t for: moka pot users. Taylors doesn’t give a moka guide for this blend.
Similar dark roasts
- Taylors Flying Start or After Dark: both are roast 5 at Taylors, a step lighter. Flying Start 700g beans are £15.00 at Sainsbury’s and at Morrisons, and After Dark ground 200g is £5.75 at both, checked 3 Oct 2026.
- Lavazza Espresso Barista Intenso ground: intensity 9 of 10 on Lavazza UK’s scale, £8.00 for 250g at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026. See our best coffee for a moka pot guide.
Downsides
- Small packs only. Beans and ground both come in 200g at the shops we checked.
- Robusta in the blend. Not for 100% arabica fans.
- Coffee bags are dear per kilo. £50.67 a kilo at full price at Sainsbury’s, checked 3 Oct 2026.
Where to go next
Maker’s details: Taylors lists the roast level and tasting notes on its own Hot Lava Java ground and Hot Lava Java beans pages.
Independent review: Pete Drinks has published a review of the Taylors Hot Lava Java. We haven’t summarised its findings here.
Independent review: Clarkey Cafe has published a review of the Taylors Hot Lava Java. We haven’t summarised its findings here.
FAQ
Is Taylors Hot Lava Java strong? In roast terms, yes. Taylors gives it a 6, its highest roast number, and calls it extra-dark.
Is Hot Lava Java 100% arabica? No. Taylors says it includes some robusta.
Can you use Hot Lava Java in an espresso machine? Taylors’ bean page includes a pump espresso guide, so grind the beans fresh for the best results.
Verdict
Taylors of Harrogate Hot Lava Java (beans, ground and coffee bags)
Taylors' darkest house blend, with smoke and black pepper notes and some robusta in the mix. Easy to find at UK supermarkets, and the beans or ground packs are the better value; the coffee bags are a handy extra.
Pros
- Pro: Taylors' highest roast number (6)
- Pro: Beans, ground and coffee bags
- Pro: Sold at Sainsbury's and Morrisons at the same price
- Pro: Taylors gives cafetière, filter, AeroPress and espresso guides
Cons
- Con: Only 200g packs of beans and ground
- Con: Contains robusta, so not 100% arabica
- Con: Coffee bags cost far more per kg
- Con: Too dark for anyone who dislikes bitter, smoky coffee
- Best for
- Dark-roast fans who want a strong-tasting supermarket blend for a cafetière or espresso machine
- Who it isn't for
- Anyone who prefers light, fruity coffee or wants a big bag for a bean-to-cup machine
Sources
- See Hot Lava Java beans at Morrisons (groceries.morrisons.com)
- See Hot Lava Java ground at Morrisons (groceries.morrisons.com)
- Hot Lava Java ground (taylorsofharrogate.com)
- Hot Lava Java beans (taylorsofharrogate.com)
- review of the Taylors Hot Lava Java (petedrinks.com)
- review of the Taylors Hot Lava Java (clarkeycafe.wordpress.com)
Related
- Taylors coffee beans: which Taylors of Harrogate blend to buy
- Taylors Lazy Sunday: the mild roast explained, and which format to buy
- M&S Collection Colombian beans review: Fairtrade everyday beans that are hard to price online
- Lavazza Qualità Oro beans review: a big, fairly priced bag of all-Arabica beans