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DARK ROAST COFFEE - The Ultimate Guide

Kara Isert

THE SCOOP ON DARK ROAST COFFEE

The smokiness, the rich earthy flavour – do you love a bold, chocolatey coffee? Then dark roasts are for you!

These are not subtle, fruity, timid coffees at all. Coffees lose some of their volatile compounds when in the roaster. While this makes a dark roast coffee less acidic and less subtle, it also makes it full bodied and richer tasting than a medium or light roast bean. A dark roast often tastes toasty and smoky, and even a bit bitter. 

If you want to know what we’re talking about, try our Globetrotter Espresso and Bullit Custom Dark blends.

I usually drink my dark roast coffee with a shot of milk to enhance the bold flavours and aromas that emerge from my mug. But before we talk more about how amazing a good dark roast can be, we should make sure that we’re 100% on the same page.

WHAT IS A DARK ROAST COFFEE?

Dark roast coffees go by many names, like:

  • French roast

  • Italian roast

  • Espresso roast

  • Continental roast

  • Spanish roast…

Whatever you call it, a dark roast coffee will be very dark brown or black and shiny.

Yes, that oily sheen is one of the characteristics of dark roast coffee. The longer coffee is in the roaster and the hotter it gets, the darker it becomes. Just like sitting in the sun makes our skin sweaty and tanned, while in the roaster, coffee beans “sweat” losing some moisture – up to 18% for a dark roast bean! Despite this water weight loss, they puff up and become bigger and lighter as they get darker.

IS DARK ROAST COFFEE THE STRONGEST OF THEM ALL?

This totally depends on what you mean by STRONG.

Dark roast coffees are absolutely the BOLDEST and strongest tasting coffee. If you’re a double double drinker, you will love the strong taste of dark roast coffee. Even with a double dose of cream or milk, it’ll still taste like coffee and not like vaguely coffee-flavoured milk.

If by strong, you mean something super thick that you can stand a spoon up in, that’s more to do with the brewing method. You can make any coffee taste extra strong by using more ground coffee and less water. This isn’t more delicious, in my opinion, but it can be very strong! (If you’re not sure of the best coffee proportions, check out our Coffee Basics brew guide.)

If by strong, you mean it has the most CAFFEINE, you’ll be surprised…

DO DARK ROASTS CONTAIN MORE CAFFEINE?

Many people believe that the bold or bitter flavour of a dark roast coffee stems from a high caffeine level.

This is a myth.

The truth is that caffeine levels between roast types are insignificant. A coffee bean has a certain amount of caffeine in it and it does not gain or lose any, or at least not enough to be noticeable, when it is roasted.

However! More beans equals more caffeine, and since coffee beans pop and expand in size as they’re roasting, it takes fewer dark roast beans to fill up a coffee scoop. It’s true! A scoop of medium roast coffee has more beans than a scoop of dark roast coffee. So, unless you weigh your beans when you brew up your coffee, dark roast = less beans = LESS caffeine!

ARE DARK ROAST COFFEES LESS ACIDIC?

Surprise, surprise! Dark roast coffee does not have less acid than a medium roast coffee. When brewed, the pH levels in both roasts are identical.

Recent studies say that dark roast coffee may have more N-methylpyridium, a chemical which appears to block stomach cells from producing hydrochloric acid, but the results are not final. If this is true, it would explain why people with sensitive stomachs are bothered more by lighter roast coffees.

Note that “acid” can also mean a taste that has nothing to do with pH levels. Coffee experts often seek out a coffee’s “acidic” flavours, referring to a bright or sour or tangy flavour. The flavours of dark roast beans may be perceived as “less-acidic”, but they’re not really less acidic overall.

IS IT SUPPOSED TO TASTE LIKE... THAT?

Probably! A really dark roast coffee is an acquired taste for many. To make a very dark roast (often called a French Roast), the coffee is taken out of the roaster just before its now oily surface catches fire. Yes, this can give it a bitter, burnt, and ashy taste – which many people love!

Some people like to have a lighter roast in the morning and a darker roast later on in the day. But a heavy body and low acidity makes dark roast coffee one of my all-time favorites, at any time of day! I may be biased, though. I drink premium quality, Arabica coffee and tend to go for a dark roast that is dark brown, not black and burnt.

There is a difference between great Arabica coffee and commodity robusta beans. And there is a fine line between perfectly dark roasted and over-roasted and burnt. If your morning cup tastes like a tire and looks like an oil field, it's probably too dark. Too dark for my tastes, anyway!

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE TASTING?

Dark roast coffees are traditionally known for having a strong aroma and smooth chocolatey flavour. But different beans from different regions will lead to different tastes.

Sweet Latin American beans often give you a caramel or syrupy flavour, whereas spicy Indonesian beans may make you think of cinnamon or earth.

Although no nuts have been in contact with them, some dark roast coffees can even taste like peanut butter! With an overall dense flavour, you can’t really go wrong with a good dark roast. Its heavy body makes it easy to drink.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH A DARK ROAST COFFEE?

Chocolate and dark roast coffee are like two peas in a pod - err, like two beans in a fruit? (groan…) Enjoy a bit of dark chocolate with your brew when winding down after a long day of work, or pair your morning dark roast with a decadent chocolate croissant. Celebrating a birthday - or a Friday - pair your mug of java with a nice slice of chocolate cake. Yum!

WHAT IS THE BEST COFFEE MAKER FOR DARK ROAST COFFEE?

Dark roast coffees are very versatile and can make a delicious cup of joe in most coffee makers. Here are our favourite coffee maker picks for making a mean cup of dark roast coffee:

Aeropress (click here for the AeroPress Brew Guide)

French Press (click here for our French Press Brew Guide)

Espresso, of course! Traditional Italian espresso blends are dark roasted and have a dollop of Robusta coffee to add extra bitterness.

Moka Pot - also known as Stovetop Espresso, Bialetti, Percolator if you’re a Brit and Coffee Maker if you’re Italian (click here to get our Moka Pot Brew Guide)

Pour Over - also known as filter or cone or manual or Melitta / Hario / Chemex (click here to get the Pour Over Brew Guide)

Remember to select the right grind size and water temperature for your brewer. And always use fresh roasted, premium quality beans! Remember, you are going for a smooth taste and chocolatey flavour.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN MY COFFEE MAKER?

While you may be in love with the smokiness and bold flavours of a yummy dark roast, it’s also important to note that you’ll have to clean your coffee maker more often, especially if it’s an espresso maker. Clean your grinder regularly, too! This is due to the oil buildup that happens with dark roast beans. Luckily for more low-tech coffeemakers – like Aeropress & French presses – a regular cleaning is enough.

THE FUTURE OF DARK ROAST COFFEE

Coffee roasting technology is always evolving. The discovery of better ways to efficiently roast coffee has led to the ability to preserve the natural coffee flavours, even with a dark roast. What’s that mean? It means we can taste both the subtleties of the specific coffee AND the roast.

WHAT’S THE BEST DARK ROAST COFFEE?

Well, we think Sparkplug’s dark roast picks are the best, of course! The Sparkplug Coffee team loves a dark roast coffee! It fuels our days and keeps us happy as we blend and pack up coffee and ship it direct to your door.

We have a few dark roast options for you:

We roast and ship every week – free shipping anywhere in Canada. Which will you try next?

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