Every board we make comes in three woods: hard maple, American cherry, and American black walnut. All three are excellent, food-safe hardwoods, and all three will last for generations with basic care. The real difference is how each one looks, how it changes over time, and how it fits your kitchen.
| Hard maple | American cherry | American black walnut | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color when new | Pale cream | Light honey to pinkish tan | Deep chocolate brown |
| How it ages | Stays light and bright | Darkens to rich reddish-brown | Stays dark, gains a soft luster |
| Hardness (Janka, approx.) | 1,450 lbf | 950 lbf | 1,010 lbf |
| Grain | Fine, tight, closed-pore | Fine, smooth, subtle figure | Bold, flowing, dramatic |
| Best for | Heavy daily use | A board that grows with you | A statement piece |
Hard maple: the everyday workhorse
Hard maple is one of the densest hardwoods in North America, which is why it's been the traditional choice for butcher blocks for generations. Its tight, closed-pore grain stands up to heavy knife work and easily rinses clean.
Maple's bright, creamy color looks fresh in any kitchen, and it keeps that look over time. If you want a board you'll reach for ten times a day, maple is hard to beat.
Cherry: the wood that changes with you
Cherry is sometimes called the cabinetmaker's darling. It starts out soft and understated, then slowly darkens with exposure to light into deep reds and browns. A cherry board you buy today will look noticeably richer a year from now.
Cherry is a little softer than maple, so it's slightly easier on your knife edges. It's a great choice if you love the idea of a board that tells the story of the years you've used it.
Walnut: the showpiece
American black walnut is prized by furniture makers for its depth of color and dramatic grain. It's the darkest of our three woods, and it makes food look wonderful: bright fruit, cheeses, and herbs pop against it.
Walnut's hardness falls between cherry and maple, so it handles everyday prep well while being gentle on knives. Choose walnut when you want a board that looks just as good on the table as it does on the counter.
How to choose
- You cook every day and want something that can take a beating: maple.
- You want a board with character that deepens over time: cherry.
- You serve and entertain, and want something striking: walnut.
- You're buying a gift and aren't sure: match their kitchen. Maple suits bright, modern spaces, cherry suits warm and traditional ones, and walnut suits darker, moody rooms.
Can't decide? Our Bourbon Trays pair two woods together, so you get the contrast of both.
Whichever wood you pick, every board is hand-selected, joined for stability, and sanded by hand in our Colorado Springs shop. Browse our cutting boards to see all three side by side.