Light or dark roast: reading the bag

Choose a bag with your usual drink in mind. Coffee for a morning latte may be a different choice from coffee you want to drink black.

What the label tells you

The National Coffee Association's roast guide explains that lighter roasting generally preserves more of a coffee's individual qualities. Lighter coffees commonly show more acidity. Darker roasting brings a stronger roasted character and more bitterness. Roast names vary between companies, so one roaster's 'medium' may differ from another's.

Read the flavour notes beside the roast level. An apple-like description could appeal if you enjoy fruity black coffee. Cocoa-like notes might interest you for a milk drink. These are leads to follow when choosing, rather than promises about the finished cup.

Keep tasting notes separate from ingredients. 'Nutty' describes a flavour comparison; it doesn't tell you whether anything was added. Check the ingredients or ask if you need that information.

Espresso isn't a roast level

According to the NCA, 'espresso roast' means the roaster prepared the coffee with espresso brewing in mind. It isn't one fixed roast level. Read the rest of the bag before assuming it will be dark.

Tell the person helping you how you'll brew it. 'I want to taste the coffee through the milk' is a useful request. So is 'my last bag was too bitter drunk black'.

Photograph a bag you liked before throwing it away. Keep the roaster's name, your brewing recipe and a short reaction together in a phone note. Bring that information to your next RASA visit: it gives the team a particular coffee to discuss with you.