Explore why dark roast coffee isn't actually stronger than light roast. Learn the truth about caffeine content, flavor intensity, and what "strength" really means in coffee brewing.
Very thought provoking reading. Thank you for posting. Yes, I also perceived stronger taste equated to more caffeine mileage. I assumed that if I drank iced black Coffee, I would be impacted less by caffeine jitters.. But, of course- results were completely the other way around. Why? As you mentioned - I didn’t know the steeping time adds to the caffeine effect, and Espresso, Cuban, and Turkish Coffee have less steeping, and faster extraction time by volume- hence does not have more caffeine than say- a French press or cold pour. Vietnamese coffee caffeine levels might be in between the aforementioned styles.
So it ultimately depends on personal preference, for what ‘strong’ is=and for me I’d rather have focused(some say strong) flavors, in a few sips with less caffeine crash, than sipping volumes, and becoming Daffy Duck-like, scaring everybody around me.
Thank you for your comment Aki! Years ago I had also thought that somehow dark roasted equated more caffeine but after learning more and more about coffee I learned the opposite was true! I always got the jitters with cold brew and now it makes sense why.
I’m also the same! I would much prefer stronger, bolder coffee with less caffeine, it’s probably why I love dark roasts so much!
Yes! I have a local favorite here in Austin, they’re a family owned roastery and also have their own coffee farm in Nicaragua, they’re called Talisman https://www.talismancoffeeco.com/
Oh wow! Love how they specialize in Honey fermented anaerobic beans too. Intrigued by their Red honey dark. Might have to order after I’m done with a few bags I have for daily brewing
What is the best way to make your coffee? I am sure that is a complex answer because it depends on the type of coffee drink you are making. I do notice that on some of the coffee bags I buy it says to use cold, filtered water.
Ooof this is a complex one! I always think best is subjective, for me personally I really enjoy a dark roast in my espresso machine. I use either cold spring water or filtered water. What about you? What's your favorite method?
On a related note: why do many people seem to believe that if you drink decaf, you like your coffee weak? When you explain that you want your coffee decaf but very strong you can see them struggling mentally with it and thinking “does not compute”. Then we could spend hours discussing the fact that decaf coffee is almost always worse quality than with-caf. Places that have great caffeinated coffee will often have rubbish decaf.
This is such a good point Claire! I completely agree with your point. The perception as to why decaffeinated is not as strong as caffeinated coffee is not only because of the caffeine content (or lack thereof) but rather the decaffeination process removes some of the flavor compounds. This also varies depending on which decaffeination process you use and the quality of beans. Granted a lot of modern techniques have been employed in order to preserve the original flavor of the beans. Contrary to popular thought, decaffeination happens before the beans are roasted. Therefore roast significantly alters the flavor profile of the beans. The majority of commercial decafs are unfortunately “weak” but there are also many that are incredibly bold. Peete’s has a great selection of decaf high quality beans that are pretty strong in flavor.
Thanks for your comment Giovanna! It's hard to believe but caffeine is pretty stable during roasting. Apart from losing moisture, changing the size of the bean, and giving it a bold flavor, the effects of roasting on caffeine are negligible.
You mention that “The steeping time, grind size, and water temperature affect caffeine extraction much more than roasting level.”. But say those elements are very similar, will a dark roast end up having more caffeine than a light roast or vice versa? And why
Maybe :) curious to see what Bernardette thinks. I was told lighter roasts have more caffeine than dark roast. I did a very quick search (while drinking my coffee, of course) and the internet seems to agree with that. But I’m not an expert.
Thanks for your comments Claire and Giovanna! The reason why light roasts are considered to have more caffeine than dark roasts is because they do when they are both measured by volume (one scoop) versus by weight. One scoop of light roast will have more caffeine than one scoop of dark roast because the light roast is more dense and therefore has more caffeine. The dark roast beans have expanded and are therefore less dense and contain less beans and therefore have less caffeine. If you measure both by weight the difference is very negligible. Does this help?
For many years I have enjoyed buying fresh green beans from a company called. Sweet Maria in Oakland, California. They have a variety that’s unparalleled from all over the world. Best to have a 10” minimum pan with a rounded bottom to sauté the beans. You can hold 2 pounds approximately but easier with 1.5. Over medium heat it might take 15 to 20 minutes over a gas burner. That’s to get somewhere between medium to dark roast. The joy of this is that they’re not uniform. Some will be darker ….Some will be lighter. This flavor is what you’re after. I find the mixture of tonality is worth all the depth of flavor lies.
Check out their website (https://www.sweetmarias.com/) coffee from every corner of the world, single source to their own blends. I suggest getting the sample sets to test your preferences and practice your technique. Also, be sure to have not too fine holed colander to dump the hot bean into ; allow to cool but start to toss over a sink to remove the chafe. I swear there is an appreciable high just from the aroma while roasting.
Thank you for that! I have to admit I still have that on my list but will see if I can get some ordered this month and try to roast them at home. I'll definitely update with my trials and errors 😅
I remember you mentioning them before on another post! What is the origin of the green beans you usually buy? I still have yet to roast my own coffee but it is something I'm planning on doing soon!
This is such a great idea for a future post! I agree it's incredibly interesting how different variables affect caffeine content and something I should definitely expand on. Keep on the lookout for a post on this, I'll be working on it. Thank you for suggesting this 🥰
This popped up just as I was about to enjoy my second cup of dark roast—no joke! :) I definitely prefer a dark roast and have always linked it with bold flavour, but I’d never really considered its caffeine content. I definitely didn’t know that a longer roast makes the beans weigh less. I love learning these little coffee facts from you!
Isn't dark roast the best Ibtissam?! It's always been perceived that stronger equals more caffeine but thankfully the opposite is true, even if by a small margin. Thank you for taking the time to read my friend, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Very thought provoking reading. Thank you for posting. Yes, I also perceived stronger taste equated to more caffeine mileage. I assumed that if I drank iced black Coffee, I would be impacted less by caffeine jitters.. But, of course- results were completely the other way around. Why? As you mentioned - I didn’t know the steeping time adds to the caffeine effect, and Espresso, Cuban, and Turkish Coffee have less steeping, and faster extraction time by volume- hence does not have more caffeine than say- a French press or cold pour. Vietnamese coffee caffeine levels might be in between the aforementioned styles.
So it ultimately depends on personal preference, for what ‘strong’ is=and for me I’d rather have focused(some say strong) flavors, in a few sips with less caffeine crash, than sipping volumes, and becoming Daffy Duck-like, scaring everybody around me.
Thank you for your comment Aki! Years ago I had also thought that somehow dark roasted equated more caffeine but after learning more and more about coffee I learned the opposite was true! I always got the jitters with cold brew and now it makes sense why.
I’m also the same! I would much prefer stronger, bolder coffee with less caffeine, it’s probably why I love dark roasts so much!
Agreed! I raise my coffee cup in agreement!
Do you have a local roastery that makes great dark roasts? I find freshly roasted beans tasting so much better than store bought ones.
Yes! I have a local favorite here in Austin, they’re a family owned roastery and also have their own coffee farm in Nicaragua, they’re called Talisman https://www.talismancoffeeco.com/
Oh wow! Love how they specialize in Honey fermented anaerobic beans too. Intrigued by their Red honey dark. Might have to order after I’m done with a few bags I have for daily brewing
Yes!! Their quality is superb and is traceable from bean to cup which is not an easy feat these days. I know the owner and he is a lovely person.
What is the best way to make your coffee? I am sure that is a complex answer because it depends on the type of coffee drink you are making. I do notice that on some of the coffee bags I buy it says to use cold, filtered water.
Ooof this is a complex one! I always think best is subjective, for me personally I really enjoy a dark roast in my espresso machine. I use either cold spring water or filtered water. What about you? What's your favorite method?
On a related note: why do many people seem to believe that if you drink decaf, you like your coffee weak? When you explain that you want your coffee decaf but very strong you can see them struggling mentally with it and thinking “does not compute”. Then we could spend hours discussing the fact that decaf coffee is almost always worse quality than with-caf. Places that have great caffeinated coffee will often have rubbish decaf.
This is such a good point Claire! I completely agree with your point. The perception as to why decaffeinated is not as strong as caffeinated coffee is not only because of the caffeine content (or lack thereof) but rather the decaffeination process removes some of the flavor compounds. This also varies depending on which decaffeination process you use and the quality of beans. Granted a lot of modern techniques have been employed in order to preserve the original flavor of the beans. Contrary to popular thought, decaffeination happens before the beans are roasted. Therefore roast significantly alters the flavor profile of the beans. The majority of commercial decafs are unfortunately “weak” but there are also many that are incredibly bold. Peete’s has a great selection of decaf high quality beans that are pretty strong in flavor.
I had no idea. Very interesting read. Thanks for the post.
Thank you Holly! I’m gad you enjoyed it.
Another myth busted by your post that dark roast is equal to more caffeine
Totally Annada! Thanks for reading my dear!
I found this revelation so intriguing when I learned about it (the barista dating years) and you explain it so much better!!!!
Thank you Jess, this means so much to me ❤️
my pleasure to read it!!
I thought the roasting actually reduced the caffeine content, so light roast has more caffeine
Thanks for your comment Giovanna! It's hard to believe but caffeine is pretty stable during roasting. Apart from losing moisture, changing the size of the bean, and giving it a bold flavor, the effects of roasting on caffeine are negligible.
You mention that “The steeping time, grind size, and water temperature affect caffeine extraction much more than roasting level.”. But say those elements are very similar, will a dark roast end up having more caffeine than a light roast or vice versa? And why
Maybe there’s actually no difference? The roasting process is removing water but it’s not removing the caffeine
Maybe :) curious to see what Bernardette thinks. I was told lighter roasts have more caffeine than dark roast. I did a very quick search (while drinking my coffee, of course) and the internet seems to agree with that. But I’m not an expert.
Thanks for your comments Claire and Giovanna! The reason why light roasts are considered to have more caffeine than dark roasts is because they do when they are both measured by volume (one scoop) versus by weight. One scoop of light roast will have more caffeine than one scoop of dark roast because the light roast is more dense and therefore has more caffeine. The dark roast beans have expanded and are therefore less dense and contain less beans and therefore have less caffeine. If you measure both by weight the difference is very negligible. Does this help?
I am a little obsessed with coffee + I’m a baker. So it’s been nice to follow you :)
Ooohh. Wow. This is so interesting. Thanks for sharing that.
For many years I have enjoyed buying fresh green beans from a company called. Sweet Maria in Oakland, California. They have a variety that’s unparalleled from all over the world. Best to have a 10” minimum pan with a rounded bottom to sauté the beans. You can hold 2 pounds approximately but easier with 1.5. Over medium heat it might take 15 to 20 minutes over a gas burner. That’s to get somewhere between medium to dark roast. The joy of this is that they’re not uniform. Some will be darker ….Some will be lighter. This flavor is what you’re after. I find the mixture of tonality is worth all the depth of flavor lies.
Check out their website (https://www.sweetmarias.com/) coffee from every corner of the world, single source to their own blends. I suggest getting the sample sets to test your preferences and practice your technique. Also, be sure to have not too fine holed colander to dump the hot bean into ; allow to cool but start to toss over a sink to remove the chafe. I swear there is an appreciable high just from the aroma while roasting.
Thank you for that! I have to admit I still have that on my list but will see if I can get some ordered this month and try to roast them at home. I'll definitely update with my trials and errors 😅
OMG I had no idea this was a thing!! Not gonna lie, now I’m dying to try this! Oakland is so cool 😎
I remember you mentioning them before on another post! What is the origin of the green beans you usually buy? I still have yet to roast my own coffee but it is something I'm planning on doing soon!
Nice! I would love it if you could expand more in this article about how the brewing variables affect caffeine levels, cause I’m a nerd 🤓!
Also, do some beans naturally have more caffeine than others? Now I’m curious what else affects caffeine content besides roast or brew method 🤔
This is such a great idea for a future post! I agree it's incredibly interesting how different variables affect caffeine content and something I should definitely expand on. Keep on the lookout for a post on this, I'll be working on it. Thank you for suggesting this 🥰
I always assumed there was higher caffeine levels. Thanks for this Bernardette!
I used to as well Jeanine! I think it also be why I can drink 3+ cups of dark roast a day and not feel like I’m fully awake 😂
Funny! At least you know why now!
😂
Hooray for dark roast! ☕️
I love it too Betty!
Fascinating, I had no idea!
Isn't it Harrison?!
This popped up just as I was about to enjoy my second cup of dark roast—no joke! :) I definitely prefer a dark roast and have always linked it with bold flavour, but I’d never really considered its caffeine content. I definitely didn’t know that a longer roast makes the beans weigh less. I love learning these little coffee facts from you!
Isn't dark roast the best Ibtissam?! It's always been perceived that stronger equals more caffeine but thankfully the opposite is true, even if by a small margin. Thank you for taking the time to read my friend, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Always a pleasure 💙