Light Roasted Coffee Beans vs Dark Roasted Coffee Beans - What is the difference?

Light and dark roasts each offer a unique flavour profile, and as specialty coffee has grown in popularity, so has the appreciation for both. Whether you prefer the vibrant flavours of a light roast or the fuller body of a dark roast, there’s a coffee for every palate. In this blog, we’ll explore the key differences between light and dark roasted coffee beans, from flavour and aroma to caffeine content. We’ll also share insights from our team on how we roast specific origins to bring out their best characteristics.

Light Roasted Coffee Beans

Taste and Characteristics

Light roasted beans are light brown in colour with no oily surface. They tend to have a bright, vibrant flavour profile with a mellow body. These coffees often retain more of their original tasting notes, such as fruity or floral flavours, thanks to a shorter roasting process, and lower end temperature, that preserves the natural flavour character of the beans.

This is our preferred roasting style for the majority of our coffees.

Why Choose Light Roasts?

In the specialty coffee world, light roasts are preferred for highlighting the unique characteristics of each origin. As Dudley explains in the video below, “With a lighter roast, you would typically expect more acidity, a lighter body, and a little bit less sweetness. Origins like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda are often roasted lighter to really bring out their bright acidity.” This makes light roasts a favourite for those who enjoy more nuanced and complex flavours.

Dark Roasted Coffee Beans

Taste and Characteristics

Dark roasted beans are darker in colour and have an oily surface due to the longer roasting process. These beans produce a fuller body with deeper, more bitter flavours. As a result, much of the bean’s origin flavours are overshadowed by the roast, offering a more generic taste with notes of sweetness, caramel, and smokiness.

While we roast some coffees a bit darker than other we prefer to avoid a true dark roast as it spoils the real character of the coffee and introduces too much bitterness.

Why Choose a dark Roasts?

For coffee drinkers who prefer a bold, rich cup, dark roasts offer just that. As noted in the below video, “A darker roast would have a fuller body, more sweetness, and less acidity.” Dark roasts are typically used for origins with lower acidity but greater potential sweetness, like Brazil or coffees from Central America. “We might roast a Brazil coffee darker to highlight its natural sweetness,” explains Dudley, “or choose a coffee from El Salvador, Nicaragua, or Costa Rica for similar reasons.”

Comparing Light and Dark Roasts

When comparing light and dark roasted coffee, the key differences come down to flavour, aroma, and body:

Light Roasts: Bright acidity, lighter body, and complex flavours that reflect the bean’s origin.

Dark Roasts: Fuller body, more sweetness, and less acidity, with a stronger influence from the roasting process.

Both roast levels have their place, and ultimately, the right choice depends on your personal taste preferences.

Caffeine Content of Light and Dark Roasts

While many people assume dark roasts contain more caffeine, the difference is minimal. In fact, light roasted coffee may have a slight edge in caffeine content due to the shorter roasting time, but the impact on your cup is negligible.

Finding Your Perfect Roast

Whether you’re drawn to the fruity acidity of a light roast or the rich, full-bodied flavours of a dark roast, there’s no right or wrong choice. We recommend experimenting with both roast levels to discover what you enjoy most. Trying a variety of origins at different roast profiles will help you better appreciate the wide spectrum of flavours coffee has to offer.

Which Roast is Right for You?

Both light and dark roasted coffee beans offer distinct experiences, and each has its place in your coffee journey. Light roasts highlight the natural flavours of the bean, while dark roasts provide a bold, sweet cup.

The most important thing is to find a coffee that suits your personal preference. While we avoid a true dark roast if you prefer a rich body with lower acidity our Nova blend is a great starting point. For lighter roast coffees check out our collection of single origin coffees.

We work methodically to match the green coffee we source to a roast profile that will bring out its unique flavours and characteristics. Discover more in the video below and discover our expertly roasted coffee beans today.

Explained: Light vs Dark Roasted Coffees