Have you ever wondered why one coffee tastes bright and balanced, while another might be bold and full-bodied?
These differences are significantly influenced by the roast level of each coffee.
A coffee’s roast level is the extent to which the raw beans are exposed to heat, or “roasted.” Though time and temperature are key factors for the roasting process, we typically measure roast level by the beans’ color — from light brown (light roast) to nearly black (dark roast).
WHY DOES COFFEE ROAST LEVEL MATTER?
Coffee's roast level directly affects the beverage's flavor profile because of chemical changes to flavor compounds during the roasting process. Lighter roasts typically have a milder body and flavor profile, with both aspects becoming more intense as the roast progresses from light to dark.
Generally speaking, each roast level has distinct flavors and attributes that coffee drinkers expect:
- Light roasts tend to be bright and fruity, with more natural bean flavors.
- Medium roasts usually strike a good balance of brightness and body.
- Dark roasts often taste bold and rich, with more roasted or smoky flavors.
With this knowledge, you can use a coffee’s roast level to quickly determine whether it should fit your personal tastes.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT COFFEE ROASTS?
There are 3 primary coffee roast levels: light, medium, and dark. Certain roasters use sub-categories within these main levels — look no further than our medium-dark roasts like Café® Special — but for general purposes, we’re sticking to the big 3.
LIGHT ROAST COFFEE
Light roasts generally have a light body and bright taste. Because of shorter roasting times, they keep more original bean flavors than darker roasts. The beans themselves are roasted to a light brown color, with no oil forming on their surface.
Our First Light coffee is a great example of a light roast. It’s a delicate blend with notes of honey and brown sugar, emphasizing the brighter flavors that result from a shorter roasting process.
MEDIUM ROAST COFFEE
Medium roasts typically have more body than light roasts, along with a more balanced flavor, aroma, and brightness. This roast level is often referred to as the “American roast” because of its popularity in the United States. The beans are medium-brown in color and have a slightly oily surface.
Our Breakfast Blend and American Classic® coffees embody the smoothness and well-rounded qualities of medium roasts.
We also have a collection of medium-dark roasts, which are roasted to a slightly darker color and tend to have heavier bodies. Our Café Special® blend illustrates this difference with a taste profile that has more caramel and cocoa notes, signs of a darker roast.
DARK ROAST COFFEE
Dark roasts usually have a bold, rich body with a strong aroma and roasty notes. Because acidity decreases as roasting time increases, dark roasts also tend to have a smoother and more mellow flavor. As for the beans, they’re dark brown or almost black with an oily surface.
Our Signature Blend is a classic dark roast: rich and bold with a deep chocolate profile. If you’d like an even darker roast, we recommend trying our intense and smoky French Roast.
WHICH COFFEE ROAST IS BEST?
This question is a matter of opinion. No roast is better than the others — they each bring distinct characteristics that appeal to different tastes. Sometimes that’s determined by your area’s coffee traditions, and sometimes it simply comes down to personal preference.
So, are you a light-roast lover? Is medium roast more your thing? Or does dark roast get you going? Whatever your preference, try them all and see if you can taste the differences for yourself!