December 02, 2018 1 min read

The difference between light roast and dark roast coffee

Coffee: Light Roast vs. Dark Roast

Light roast coffee is roasted at a lower temperature (around 425-450°F) for a shorter period of time. This results in a lighter brown bean with more caffeine and more complex flavors, such as floral, fruity, and citrus notes.

Dark roast coffee is roasted at a higher temperature (around 465-485°F) for a longer period of time. This results in a darker brown bean with less caffeine and more simple flavors, such as chocolatey and nutty notes.

Here is a table summarizing the key differences between light roast and dark roast coffee:

Characteristic Light Roast Dark Roast
Roasting temp Lower  Higher 
Roasting time Shorter Longer
Color Light brown Dark brown, almost black
Caffeine Higher Lower
Flavor profile More floral, fruity, and citrus notes More chocolatey and nutty notes

 

Common roast names for dark roasted coffee:

  • Full City
  • Italian
  • Viennese
  • French
  • Continental
  • New Orleans
  • European
  • Espresso
  • Viennese
  • Italian