This side-by-side compares how light, medium, and dark roasts differ across the qualities that matter most in the cup.
| Attribute | Light | Medium | Dark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acidity | High | Medium | Low |
| Body | Light | Medium | Full |
| Origin flavor | Strong | Some | Faint |
| Roast flavor | Faint | Some | Strong |
| Surface oil | None | None | Oily |
A trade-off, not a ladder. Darker is not better, just different. You trade the bright origin notes of a light roast for the bold, roasty body of a dark one.
See the Coffee Roast Level Chart and the Coffee Roasts Explained.