Tom Nikkola | VIGOR Training

We’re all in this together. Stay home. Stay safe. We’ll get through this. It’s our new normal.

These words have been repeated so many times, you’d think they’re used for selling the latest superfood.

They’re not selling a superfood, but is it possible they’re trying to sell us something?

A Sequence of Events

Vanessa and I were playing our morning game of Sequence and drinking our coffee in early April (we’ve been playing card games before work since well before the COVID-19 chaos). Just before the news shifted to commercial, the newsperson stated, "Stay home. Stay safe."

The commercials came on, with one after another using the phrases I mentioned above. That was the moment I first realized how often those phrases were coming at us. Of course, once you notice something like this, you can't not see it and hear it anymore. Welcome to the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon. Perhaps my bringing it up to you will make you aware now too.

Whether the coordinated use of these phrases was some sort of nationwide scheme created by a group behind "the curtain," or it was a simple coincidence, we've been primed, and it's had a visible impact on people's thoughts, words, and actions.

Behavioral Priming

Though its effects are controversial, psychologists, researchers, and marketers have tested behavioral priming since the middle of the 20th century.

If you’re not familiar with priming, it is the ability to influence someone’s thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors without them knowing about it, through exposing them to a previous stimulus. For example, repeating the phrase, “Stay home. Stay safe.” could be a form of priming, as it has the potential to impact the way people think (or don't think and just do), speak, or act.

As John Bargh explains in his article, published in the European Journal of Social Psychology,

The past 25 years have seen amazing empirical advances in our knowledge of the kinds of psychological concepts and processes that can be primed or put into motion unconsciously. Social norms to guide or channel behavior within the situation; goals to achieve high performance, to cooperate with an opponent, or to be fair minded and egalitarian; emotions that shape our reactions and responses to subsequent, unrelated stimuli; and of course, knowledge structures such as stereotypes and trait constructs for use in the comprehension and encoding of often ambiguous social behavior. And social behavior itself can be produced unconsciously in the same fashion.Still more recently, though, priming effects of even greater complexity have been discovered, such as in the nonconscious activation of deep cultural ideologies and other interpersonal relations…Bargh JA, 2006

Consider this statement: We're all in this together.

If you hear this over and over, and unconsciously believe it, then it means those who don't follow the conventional recommendations aren't in this with you. They're outsiders. They are easy to target and hate and slander. It feels okay to treat them as outsiders because people believe they have the support of their pack to do so.

Or take this one: Stay home. Stay safe.

This implies that by staying home, you’re doing something that helps protect people. To not stay home then, would mean putting others at risk. It sets the stage for people to easily buy into the idea that if you don’t stay home, you’re selfish.

There's nothing to prove this statement is accurate. Recent data says the opposite: 66% of hospitalizations in New York are from people sheltering in place.

Yet, if you asked the average person what they should do to protect themselves and others, they'd say, "I should stay home to stay safe."

Behavioral priming can lead us to believe something is a fact even without evidence to support it. It would explain why some people feel it's okay to throw stones at those who believe in something other than staying home. They want to slander doctors who suggest we're actually safer...

I wrapped up with work for the day today and thought I’d check out the news. Everything everywhere is COVID-19.

Same stories as the days before.

The media thrives off your fear

Take these recent headlines as an example:

U.S. coronavirus deaths surpass Vietnam War (Reuters)The coronavirus crisis is way worse than feared (Axios)Mike Pence’s Reckless Refusal to Wear a Mask at the Mayo Clinic: Masculine bluster meets the Trump administration’s minimization of this crisis. (Slate)COVID-19 exposes mistrust, health care inequality going back generations for African Americans: The horror of COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on communities of color. (ABC News)

The Mainstream media does everything it can to scare the shit out of the public, knowing that fear leads to more views. 

Fear also leads to unquestioned compliance.

Though this quote comes from a fiction book, it holds more truth than a Mainstream Media story.

If you want to control someone, all you have to do is to make them feel afraid.Paulo Coelho,  The Devil and Miss Prym

The simple fact is this: the situation is not as bleak as the news would have you believe.

Facts overcome fear

How many people die each year outside of COVID-19? 2.8 million people. 

Of the 2.8 million annual deaths, the following are the top causes (2017 numbers):

Heart disease: 647,457Cancer: 599,108Accidents (unintentional injuries): 169,936Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 160,201Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 146,383Alzheimer’s disease: 121,404Diabetes: 83,564

At the time of this writing, 58,000 people have died in connection with COVID-19 in the United States. 0.018% of the U.S. population.

Time will tell, but the data suggests a significant portion of the COVID-19 deaths are not in addition to the usual 2.8 million. It’s likely that numerous will be instead of some of the 2.8 million. 

What’s interesting is that those with any of these issues, other than accidents or Alzheimer’s, are more likely to die of COVID-19. 

89% of those who end up in the hospital due to COVID-19 have a preexisting condition. The most common preexisting conditions leading to hospitalization with COVID-19 are the same preexisting conditions that cause the most common deaths in the U.S. to begin with.

If COVID-19 is so life-threatening, why don't we put forth the same level of culture-shocking effort into fixing the preexisting conditions that lead to hospitalization?

Why don't we have the same fear of not being healthy as we do about getting sick?

We don't need to live in fear if we're willing to stay healthy. If we're willing to stay healthy, we can overcome COVID-19 with little to no symptoms.

If we're willing to stay healthy, we can go to work and keep the economy going, so our government can care for those who have no control over their health or age.

If we're willing to stay healthy, we'll minimize our risk of severe COVID-19. We'll be able to work and provide for our families and friends.

Don't be fooled into fear.

I wrapped up with work for the day today and thought I’d check out the news. Everything everywhere is COVID-19.

Same stories as the days before.

The media thrives off your fear

Take these recent headlines as an example:

* U.S. coronavirus deaths surpass Vietnam War (Reuters)* The coronavirus crisis is way worse than feared (Axios)* Mike Pence’s Reckless Refusal to Wear a Mask at the Mayo Clinic: Masculine bluster meets the Trump administration’s minimization of this crisis. (Slate)* COVID-19 exposes mistrust, health care inequality going back generations for African Americans: The horror of COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on communities of color. (ABC News)

The Mainstream media does everything it can to scare the shit out of the public, knowing that fear leads to more views. 

Fear also leads to unquestioned compliance.

Though this quote comes from a fiction book, it holds more truth than a Mainstream Media story.

If you want to control someone, all you have to do is to make them feel afraid.Paulo Coelho,  The Devil and Miss Prym

The simple fact is this: the situation is not as bleak as the news would have you believe.

Facts overcome fear

How many people die each year outside of COVID-19? 2.8 million people. 

Of the 2.8 million annual deaths, the following are the top causes (2017 numbers):

* Heart disease: 647,457* Cancer: 599,108* Accidents (unintentional injuries): 169,936* Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 160,201* Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 146,383* Alzheimer’s disease: 121,404* Diabetes: 83,564

At the time of this writing, 58,000 people have died in connection with COVID-19 in the United States. 0.018% of the U.S. population.

Time will tell, but the data suggests a significant portion of the COVID-19 deaths are not in addition to the usual 2.8 million. It’s likely that numerous will be instead of some of the 2.8 million. 

What’s interesting is that those with any of these issues, other than accidents or Alzheimer’s, are more likely to die of COVID-19. 

89% of those who end up in the hospital due to COVID-19 have a preexisting condition. The most common preexisting conditions leading to hospitalization with COVID-19 are the same preexisting conditions that cause the most common deaths in the U.S. to begin with.

If COVID-19 is so life-threatening, why don't we put forth the same level of culture-shocking effort into fixing the preexisting conditions that lead to hospitalization?

Why don't we have the same fear of not being healthy as we do about getting sick?

We don't need to live in fear if we're willing to stay healthy. If we're willing to stay healthy, we can overcome COVID-19 with little to no symptoms.

If we're willing to stay healthy, we can go to work and keep the economy going, so our government can care for those who have no control over their health or age.

If we're willing to stay healthy, we'll minimize our risk of severe COVID-19. We'll be able to work and provide for our families and friends.

Don't be fooled into fear.

I wrapped up with work for the day today and thought I’d check out the news. Everything everywhere is COVID-19.

Same stories as the days before.

The media thrives off your fear

Take these recent headlines as an example:

U.S. coronavirus deaths surpass Vietnam War (Reuters)The coronavirus crisis is way worse than feared (Axios)Mike Pence’s Reckless Refusal to Wear a Mask at the Mayo Clinic: Masculine bluster meets the Trump administration’s minimization of this crisis. (Slate)COVID-19 exposes mistrust, health care inequality going back generations for African Americans: The horror of COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on communities of color. (ABC News)

The Mainstream media does everything it can to scare the shit out of the public, knowing that fear leads to more views. 

Fear also leads to unquestioned compliance.

Though this quote comes from a fiction book, it holds more truth than a Mainstream Media story.

If you want to control someone, all you have to do is to make them feel afraid.Paulo Coelho,  The Devil and Miss Prym

The simple fact is this: the situation is not as bleak as the news would have you believe.

Facts overcome fear

How many people die each year outside of COVID-19? 2.8 million people. 

Of the 2.8 million annual deaths, the following are the top causes (2017 numbers):

Heart disease: 647,457Cancer: 599,108Accidents (unintentional injuries): 169,936Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 160,201Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 146,383Alzheimer’s disease: 121,404Diabetes: 83,564

At the time of this writing, 58,000 people have died in connection with COVID-19 in the United States. 0.018% of the U.S. population.

Time will tell, but the data suggests a significant portion of the COVID-19 deaths are not in addition to the usual 2.8 million. It’s likely that numerous will be instead of some of the 2.8 million. 

What’s interesting is that those with any of these issues, other than accidents or Alzheimer’s, are more likely to die of COVID-19. 

89% of those who end up in the hospital due to COVID-19 have a preexisting condition. The most common preexisting conditions leading to hospitalization with COVID-19 are the same preexisting conditions that cause the most common deaths in the U.S. to begin with.

If COVID-19 is so life-threatening, why don't we put forth the same level of culture-shocking effort into fixing the preexisting conditions that lead to hospitalization?

Why don't we have the same fear of not being healthy as we do about getting sick?

We don't need to live in fear if we're willing to stay healthy. If we're willing to stay healthy, we can overcome COVID-19 with little to no symptoms.

If we're willing to stay healthy, we can go to work and keep the economy going, so our government can care for those who have no control over their health or age.

If we're willing to stay healthy, we'll minimize our risk of severe COVID-19. We'll be able to work and provide for our families and friends.

Don't be fooled into fear.

Can essential oils enhance your fitness program? Absolutely.

If you would have asked me my opinion of essential oils in 2013, I might have responded with a blank stare. They weren't on my radar at that time.

A year later, Vanessa started using essential oils. I was a little slow getting started, and even slower getting behind them.

It's not that I didn't trust my wife. She always does her homework. However, I noticed a lot of people with little experience in health and fitness, saying things that you're not allowed to say about natural products.

The Truth Is Good Enough

One of the reasons I was so skeptical of essential oils was because of the outlandish health claims I saw posted on social media and spoken at events.

Like dietary supplements, essential oils are natural products. They are not drugs.

And yet, I consistently saw people make drug claims about essential oils, claiming they'd cure just about any disease, resolve any dysfunction, and outdo almost any other remedy available.

The claims were irresponsible, often illegal, and sometimes outlandish.

The illegal claims could be considered drug claims, a major no-no according to the FDA.

The irresponsible claims made essential oils sound like the only thing you needed to use in order to be healthy and live longer. Never mind the importance of diet, exercise, and good lifestyle choices.

The outlandish claims sometimes sounded like new age hocus-pocus, such as "essential oils eliminate negative energy in your environment."

I'm not saying people shouldn't passionately talk about essential oils, supplements, or other ways of improving one's health. What I am saying is that they shouldn't play doctor, promote pseudo-science, or suggest that using essential oils is the main step in improving health and wellbeing.

To that end, this article is about using essential oils to enhance your health and fitness program. I will not refer to disease states or suggest oils for treating chronic conditions.

If you've ever been turned off from using essential oils by what someone said about them, I hope this article turns you back onto using them. If you've ever exaggerated their benefits, I hope this article helps to ground you in what they're capable of. The truth is good enough.

Like Supplements, Essential Oils Do Best With a Solid Base of Support

Somewhere between my skepticism, and the over-the-top claims I saw on social media, I found the middle ground. There's no longer a day that goes by when I don't use a handful of different essential oils in some way.

I also understand their limitations.

No essential oil makes up for a lousy diet, a lazy lifestyle, or a lack of sleep.

Before you'll experience the full benefit of essential oils, you need a solid foundation of health to start from.

Eat a high-protein diet

Strength train at least four days per week

Sleep a minimum of seven hours each night

Supplement with the Foundational Five

If you've read my book, The 3 Pillars of VIGOR, you'll recognize the first three.

Will you get some benefits from some essential oils without a consistent commitment to the points above? Perhaps.

But part of my goal each time I write is to avoid blowing smoke.

Anyone who suggests you can achieve great, long-lasting health just by using a supplement or essential oil is either knowingly lying, or doesn't understand what it takes to get fit and healthy.

If it seems like there's a tinge of irritation in those remarks, your perception is accurate.

I'm tired of people getting lured into gimmicky exercise, diet, and supplement programs that promise way more than they can deliver.

Ok. Soap box session over. Let's get into how I recommend using essential oils as part of your fitness program.

My First Essential Oils Experiment

Vanessa started using essential oils in January, 2014. In March, she asked if I'd be willing to try an essential for male hormone support...

Can essential oils enhance your fitness program? Absolutely.

If you would have asked me my opinion of essential oils in 2013, I might have responded with a blank stare. They weren't on my radar at that time.

A year later, Vanessa started using essential oils. I was a little slow getting started, and even slower getting behind them.

It's not that I didn't trust my wife. She always does her homework. However, I noticed a lot of people with little experience in health and fitness, saying things that you're not allowed to say about natural products.

The Truth Is Good Enough

One of the reasons I was so skeptical of essential oils was because of the outlandish health claims I saw posted on social media and spoken at events.

Like dietary supplements, essential oils are natural products. They are not drugs.

And yet, I consistently saw people make drug claims about essential oils, claiming they'd cure just about any disease, resolve any dysfunction, and outdo almost any other remedy available.

The claims were irresponsible, often illegal, and sometimes outlandish.

The illegal claims could be considered drug claims, a major no-no according to the FDA.

The irresponsible claims made essential oils sound like the only thing you needed to use in order to be healthy and live longer. Never mind the importance of diet, exercise, and good lifestyle choices.

The outlandish claims sometimes sounded like new age hocus-pocus, such as "essential oils eliminate negative energy in your environment."

I'm not saying people shouldn't passionately talk about essential oils, supplements, or other ways of improving one's health. What I am saying is that they shouldn't play doctor, promote pseudo-science, or suggest that using essential oils is the main step in improving health and wellbeing.

To that end, this article is about using essential oils to enhance your health and fitness program. I will not refer to disease states or suggest oils for treating chronic conditions.

If you've ever been turned off from using essential oils by what someone said about them, I hope this article turns you back onto using them. If you've ever exaggerated their benefits, I hope this article helps to ground you in what they're capable of. The truth is good enough.

Like Supplements, Essential Oils Do Best With a Solid Base of Support

Somewhere between my skepticism, and the over-the-top claims I saw on social media, I found the middle ground. There's no longer a day that goes by when I don't use a handful of different essential oils in some way.

I also understand their limitations.

No essential oil makes up for a lousy diet, a lazy lifestyle, or a lack of sleep.

Before you'll experience the full benefit of essential oils, you need a solid foundation of health to start from.

Eat a high-protein dietStrength train at least four days per weekSleep a minimum of seven hours each nightSupplement with the Foundational Five

If you've read my First 3 Habits of VIGOR(ESS) Health Ebook, you'll recognize the first three.

Will you get some benefits from some essential oils without a consistent commitment to the points above? Perhaps.

But part of my goal each time I write is to avoid blowing smoke.

Anyone who suggests you can achieve great, long-lasting health just by using a supplement or essential oil is either knowingly lying, or doesn't understand what it takes to get fit and healthy.

If it seems like there's a tinge of irritation in those remarks, your perception is accurate.

I'm tired of people getting lured into gimmicky exercise, diet, and supplement programs that promise way more than they can deliver.

Ok. Soap box session over. Let's get into how I recommend using essential oils as part of your fitness program.

My First Essential Oils Experiment

Vanessa started using essential oils in January, 2014. In March, she asked if I'd be willing to try an essential for male hormone suppor...

Consistency, confidence, community, and don’t over think it! These lessons helped me transform from 246 pounds., 33 percent body fat, and 45-inch waist to 194 pounds, 12 percent body fat, and a 32-inch waist.

That's 52 pounds and 14 inches in just 8 months!

A special thanks to Brandon for documenting his progress so well, and for sharing his success story. I'm sure it will inspire many others to take action on their health and fitness.

Where were you at physically and mentally before joining VIGOR Training?

I joined VIGOR Training in May, 2018. Prior to that, I tried many different forms of fitness programs, classes, and camps. They gave me a good understanding of what it meant to be healthy and fit.

Though I learned a lot over those four years, I realized that I was mainly doing body weight or simple kettlebell workouts, which weren't getting me much for results.

In 2017, I stopped going to the gym completely. At the time, I couldn’t make it work in my budget. "Not fitting it into my budget" became an excuse to not exercise.

Within a few months, I'd gained weight, was consistently overeating, and didn't like how I looked.

When I started VIGOR Training, I got my baseline body composition measurements: 246 pounds, 33 percent body fat, and a 45-inch waist.

What was your tipping point?

My tipping point was a couple of months before I joined VIGOR Training.

At a guy's event called Advance, Tom Nikkola gave a talk on The Emotional Cycle of Change.

I realized I was making excuses for not exercising, and needed to make a gym membership and the training program work into my budget. I sat down with my budget and worked it out to make it happen.

Then, the next step was to then find a gym that was reasonably priced and had the right equipment. A month later, I found a good gym that had everything I needed. Then in May 2018, I began my journey with VIGOR Training.

What lessons did you learn along the way, that you'd want to pass along to others?

I've learned four key lessons from VIGOR Training:  consistency, confidence, community, and simplicity.

1. Consistency

Becoming fit and healthy is not something that happens overnight. 

It requires doing what needs to be done every single day.  When I started, I committed to training four days per week. So, every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, I woke up at 3:00 am and got to the gym by 4:00 am. I knew the only way I'd remain consistent was by working out before work.

Some mornings, I didn’t feel like going in but I would still go anyway. I committed to the process.

Time at the gym was not the only thing I stayed consistent with.

I followed the nutrition and supplement plans laid out in Tom's post, 28 Days: Four Weeks of Fat Loss.

After those four weeks, I followed the recommendations for transitioning to a more sustainable way of eating, which I follow to this day.

2. Confidence

This was something I didn’t expect. I committed to becoming a better version of myself physically, and in the process, my confidence grew. 

I gained confidence with the exercises, and my ability to handle more weight. This confidence grew outside of the gym, too. It allowed me to advance my life and move toward a new career path in wellness and life coaching!

3. Community

One of my favorite parts of VIGOR Training is the community! 

We all train hard, encourage one another through the app and VIGOR Training Facebook group, and see each other’s progress on the leaderboards.

Even though I train by myself, I know that my fellow VIGOR members are training too, and cheering me on.

4. Simplicity

Training and nutrition don't have to be complicated. 

If you have been training over a few weeks and you feel like you can add more weight, go for it!  It means you are getting stronger and you might even get a new personal record (PR)! 

Trust me, there is nothing better than hitting a new PR after four w...

Consistency, confidence, community, and don’t over think it! These lessons helped me transform from 246 pounds., 33 percent body fat, and 45-inch waist to 194 pounds, 12 percent body fat, and a 32-inch waist.

That's 52 pounds and 14 inches in just 8 months!

A special thanks to Brandon for documenting his progress so well, and for sharing his success story. I'm sure it will inspire many others to take action on their health and fitness.

Where were you at physically and mentally before joining VIGOR Training?

I joined VIGOR Training in May, 2018. Prior to that, I tried many different forms of fitness programs, classes, and camps. They gave me a good understanding of what it meant to be healthy and fit.

Though I learned a lot over those four years, I realized that I was mainly doing body weight or simple kettlebell workouts, which weren't getting me much for results.

In 2017, I stopped going to the gym completely. At the time, I couldn’t make it work in my budget. "Not fitting it into my budget" became an excuse to not exercise.

Within a few months, I'd gained weight, was consistently overeating, and didn't like how I looked.

When I started VIGOR Training, I got my baseline body composition measurements: 246 pounds, 33 percent body fat, and a 45-inch waist.

What was your tipping point?

My tipping point was a couple of months before I joined VIGOR Training.

At a guy's event called Advance, Tom Nikkola gave a talk on The Emotional Cycle of Change.

I realized I was making excuses for not exercising, and needed to make a gym membership and the training program work into my budget. I sat down with my budget and worked it out to make it happen.

Then, the next step was to then find a gym that was reasonably priced and had the right equipment. A month later, I found a good gym that had everything I needed. Then in May 2018, I began my journey with VIGOR Training.

What lessons did you learn along the way, that you'd want to pass along to others?

I've learned four key lessons from VIGOR Training:  consistency, confidence, community, and simplicity.

1. Consistency

Becoming fit and healthy is not something that happens overnight. 

It requires doing what needs to be done every single day.  When I started, I committed to training four days per week. So, every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, I woke up at 3:00 am and got to the gym by 4:00 am. I knew the only way I'd remain consistent was by working out before work.

Some mornings, I didn’t feel like going in but I would still go anyway. I committed to the process.

Time at the gym was not the only thing I stayed consistent with.

I followed the nutrition and supplement plans laid out in Tom's post, 28 Days: Four Weeks of Fat Loss.

After those four weeks, I followed the recommendations for transitioning to a more sustainable way of eating, which I follow to this day.

2. Confidence

This was something I didn’t expect. I committed to becoming a better version of myself physically, and in the process, my confidence grew. 

I gained confidence with the exercises, and my ability to handle more weight. This confidence grew outside of the gym, too. It allowed me to advance my life and move toward a new career path in wellness and life coaching!

3. Community

One of my favorite parts of VIGOR Training is the community! 

We all train hard, encourage one another through the app and VIGOR Training Facebook group, and see each other’s progress on the leaderboards.

Even though I train by myself, I know that my fellow VIGOR members are training too, and cheering me on.

4. Simplicity

Training and nutrition don't have to be complicated. 

If you have been training over a few weeks and you feel like you can add more weight, go for it!  It means you are getting stronger and you might even get a new personal record (PR)! 

Trust me, there is nothing better than hitting a new PR after four w...

Though I'm not a barista, I do make a great cup of dark roast coffee. In the search for the best method for brewing dark roast coffee, we've tried a lot. We've brewed with Keurigs and Cusinarts, French Presses and Pour Overs. We even invested in a Miele countertop unit.

We've tried hundreds of different types and brands of beans, as well. Many we tolerated, some we tossed. A handful have made awesome cups of Joe.

This article is the result of much trial and error.

And just to ward off the coffee naysayers, coffee is good for you.

Of course, no matter how good for you it is, if it tastes bad, you're not going to want to drink it.

To help you avoid suffering through drinking subpar coffee, I've outlined the best way to make dark roast coffee, using a drip coffee maker.

I've also highlighted the best dark roast beans and the best equipment for making great coffee.

The Best Dark Roast Coffee Beans

This tutorial will help you make excellent dark roast coffee. If you're looking for the best light or medium roast beans, skip this section.

Medium roast coffee is acidic, and has floral or citrus flavors. To me, it tastes like someone tried to mix coffee and tea together. Yuck!

Dark roast coffee isn't acidic, or as acidic, and usually has notes of dark chocolate. It's rich and smooth. Some dark roasts have a smoky flavor.

When roasted just right, the coffee beans have a slight amount of oil on the surface.

Roasted too long, and the inside of your coffee bag will be wet with coffee oil. Don't bother brewing that stuff. It'll taste terrible.

On the other hand, some coffee makers label their beans as dark roast when they're actually medium roast.

I can tell from the moment I peel open the bag. Medium roast beans are completely dry. I hate throwing coffee away, and will always give it a try, but almost every time this has happened, we've thrown the coffee away after brewing the first pot.

The following are six of our favorite dark roast coffee beans.

I need to mention one more, which isn't shown since it's only a seasonal blend: Starbucks Christmas blend. It's also one of our favorites. If you've never tried it, buy a bag when you can. You won't be disappointed!

The Best Dark Roast Coffee

Tap on the bag of coffee to learn more.

To make sure your beans stay fresh from the moment you open the bag until you brew the last of your beans:

Buy and use beans as close to the date they were roasted as possible

Store your coffee beans in a vacuum-sealed container (I cover this more in the coffee equipment section)

Avoid exposing the beans to excessive heat or sunlight

Buy whole beans and grind them yourself

The Best Coffee Brewing Equipment

To brew the best dark roast coffee, you'll need 4 pieces of equipment:

Coffee Storage Container

Digital Scale

Coffee Grinder

Drip Coffee Maker

The Best Coffee Storage Container: The Airscape®

Don't take this for granted. If you store your coffee beans in the bag they come in, a Ziplock bag, or a cheap, plastic container, don't do that. They'll lose their flavor too fast.

Oxygen, humidity, and heat ruin your coffee beans.

Contrary to what you might have heard, do not store your coffee beans in a Ziplock bag in the freezer. They should remain at room temperature and exposed to as little air as possible.

That's where the Airscape® container comes in.

After pouring your beans in the canister, you press down on the inner cover. As you do, the cover presses air out of the container, creating a vacuum. It's super slick.

We love the Airscape so much that I recently had custom VIGOR Training Airscape Kilos made. Some of the VIGOR Training members got the canister as a 2-year VIGORversary loyalty gift.

Since black coffee is the only pre-workout drink I recommend, it was quite fitting.

If you'd like to, get a plain Airscape Kilo on Amazon.

Though I'm not a barista, I do make a great cup of dark roast coffee. In the search for the best method for brewing dark roast coffee, we've tried a lot. We've brewed with Keurigs and Cusinarts, French Presses and Pour Overs. We even invested in a Miele countertop unit.

We've tried hundreds of different types and brands of beans, as well. Many we tolerated, some we tossed. A handful have made awesome cups of Joe.

This article is the result of much trial and error.

And just to ward off the coffee naysayers, coffee is good for you.

Of course, no matter how good for you it is, if it tastes bad, you're not going to want to drink it.

To help you avoid suffering through drinking subpar coffee, I've outlined the best way to make dark roast coffee, using a drip coffee maker.

I've also highlighted the best dark roast beans and the best equipment for making great coffee.

The Best Dark Roast Coffee Beans

This tutorial will help you make excellent dark roast coffee. If you're looking for the best light or medium roast beans, skip this section.

Medium roast coffee is acidic, and has floral or citrus flavors. To me, it tastes like someone tried to mix coffee and tea together. Yuck!

Dark roast coffee isn't acidic, or as acidic, and usually has notes of dark chocolate. It's rich and smooth. Some dark roasts have a smoky flavor.

When roasted just right, the coffee beans have a slight amount of oil on the surface.

Roasted too long, and the inside of your coffee bag will be wet with coffee oil. Don't bother brewing that stuff. It'll taste terrible.

On the other hand, some coffee makers label their beans as dark roast when they're actually medium roast.

I can tell from the moment I peel open the bag. Medium roast beans are completely dry. I hate throwing coffee away, and will always give it a try, but almost every time this has happened, we've thrown the coffee away after brewing the first pot.

The following are six of our favorite dark roast coffee beans.

I need to mention one more, which isn't shown since it's only a seasonal blend: Starbucks Christmas blend. It's also one of our favorites. If you've never tried it, buy a bag when you can. You won't be disappointed!

The Best Dark Roast Coffee

Tap on the bag of coffee to learn more.

To make sure your beans stay fresh from the moment you open the bag until you brew the last of your beans:

Buy and use beans as close to the date they were roasted as possibleStore your coffee beans in a vacuum-sealed container (I cover this more in the coffee equipment section)Avoid exposing the beans to excessive heat or sunlightBuy whole beans and grind them yourself

The Best Coffee Brewing Equipment

To brew the best dark roast coffee, you'll need 4 pieces of equipment:

Coffee Storage ContainerDigital ScaleCoffee GrinderDrip Coffee Maker

The Best Coffee Storage Container: The Airscape®

Don't take this for granted. If you store your coffee beans in the bag they come in, a Ziplock bag, or a cheap, plastic container, don't do that. They'll lose their flavor too fast.

Oxygen, humidity, and heat ruin your coffee beans.

Contrary to what you might have heard, do not store your coffee beans in a Ziplock bag in the freezer. They should remain at room temperature and exposed to as little air as possible.

That's where the Airscape® container comes in.

After pouring your beans in the canister, you press down on the inner cover. As you do, the cover presses air out of the container, creating a vacuum. It's super slick.

We love the Airscape so much that I recently had custom VIGOR Training Airscape Kilos made. Some of the VIGOR Training members got the canister as a 2-year VIGORversary loyalty gift.

Since black coffee is the only pre-workout drink I recommend, it was quite fitting.

If you'd like to, get a plain Airscape Kilo on Amazon.

Digital Scale: Reader's Choice