Dark Roast

In a Dark Roast, the coffee beans are roasted a few minutes longer than a Medium-Dark Roast, until the beans begin to smoke as the sugars begin to carbonize.

Characteristics of Dark Roast Coffee

Dark Roasted coffee beans are dark brown chocolate in color, sometimes almost black. The coffee beans become soaked with oils and appear very oily on the surface. The coffee’s oils also shine in the cup of brewed coffee.

In a Dark Roast the coffee’s natural flavors are almost totally eclipsed by the roasting process, dominating the taste and masking the beans’ origin flavors which reflect the origin of the coffee plant as well as the climate and soil of the region where the coffee was grown.

Roasting’s Effect on Coffee Acidity

Dark Roasts often taste smoky-sweet or perhaps exhibit a bittersweet flavor, sometimes even burnt tasting and with little to no acidity (roasting decreases acidity).

Synonyms for Dark Roast

Dark Roasts are also referred to as Black-Brown Roast, Continental Roast, Dark French Roast, Double Roast, Espresso Roast, European Roast, French Roast, Heavy Roast, Italian Roast, Italian Espresso Roast, Neapolitan Roast, New Orleans Roast, South Italian Roast, Spanish Roast, Turkish Roast, Very Dark-Brown Roast, and Vienna Roast.

Our Coffees are Fresh-Roasted to Order then Shipped Quickly

Best Coffee Beans In the World – Fine Brewing Equipment

Asian, Indonesian & Pacific Coffees – Arabian and African Coffees – Coffees of the Americas

Sumatra Mandheling Coffee – Java Arabica Coffee – Indonesia Sulawesi Coffee

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee – Decaf Ethiopian Coffee – India Monsooned Malabar Coffee

Coffee Equipment – Espresso Products – Espresso Brewing Equipment

Special Roasts & Blends – Flavored Coffees – Decaffeinated Coffee

Organic and Fair Trade Coffees – Green Coffee Beans

Coffee and Espresso Brewing Tips

For tips on brewing the perfect cup of coffee see our section on Coffee Brewing. You can also read detailed coffee flavor profiles of Gourmet Coffees and instructions on preparing Espresso Drink Recipes.

We also provide you with the instructions on Pulling A Perfect Espresso Shot as well as Barista Guide to Perfect Lattes and Cappuccinos.

For detailed definitions of coffee terminology see the Coffee and Espresso Glossary.  Also check out the World’s Best History of Coffee.