Walk down a coffee aisle and you’ll see bags labeled light, medium, dark. But what does roast level actually mean—and how does it affect your cup?
Let’s break it down.
Roast Profiles in a Nutshell
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Light Roast: Shorter roast time, beans stay lighter in color. Preserves original origin flavors (floral, fruity, bright acidity).
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Medium Roast: Balance of origin character and roast flavor. Often chocolatey, nutty, smooth.
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Dark Roast: Longer roast, darker beans with oil on surface. Emphasizes roast flavors (smoky, bold, bitter-sweet).
Flavor Experience
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Light Roast: Clean, vibrant, high acidity, complex aromatics.
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Medium Roast: Balanced sweetness, body, and acidity. Crowd-pleaser.
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Dark Roast: Heavy body, lower acidity, bold intensity.
Caffeine Myth
Many believe dark roast = more caffeine. In reality:
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Roast level has minimal impact on caffeine.
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Light roast may retain slightly more by weight, but the difference is small compared to brewing method.
Brewing Considerations
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Light Roast: Shines in pour-over and drip for clarity.
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Medium Roast: Flexible—great in pour-over, drip, French Press.
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Dark Roast: Best in French Press or espresso-style brews.
Pairing with Eish Coffee
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Dawn Origin (Light): Perfect for those who love nuance and exploration.
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Builder’s Blend (Medium): Ideal everyday balance.
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Roaster’s Reserve (Dark): Comfort cup with rich boldness.
Action for Tomorrow
Brew the same coffee method with both light and dark roasts.
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Notice differences in acidity, sweetness, and body.
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You’ll quickly learn which style fits your palate.
Want our Roast Level Flavor Chart to help guide your choices? Join the Eish Coffee list to download it.
Eish Coffee – roast to your rhythm.
