Comparison ·
Light vs dark roast coffee: the differences
Light roast: 445 coffees from 137 roasters on Cafendo; Dark roast: 881 coffees from 201 roasters. Roasters describe light roasts most often with chocolate and citrus, and dark roasts with chocolate and nuts. Median price per kilo: Light roast ≈ $36.74 / kg, Dark roast ≈ $31.23 / kg.
| Fact | Light roast | Dark roast |
|---|---|---|
| On Cafendo | 445 coffees from 137 roasters | 881 coffees from 201 roasters |
| Tasting notes | chocolate 33%, citrus 30%, and berries 22% | chocolate 58%, nuts 31%, and caramel 18% |
| Origins | Ethiopia 25%, Colombia 19%, and Brazil 13% | Brazil 25%, Indonesia 20%, and Colombia 18% |
| Process | Washed 43% and Natural 38% | Washed 54% and Natural 29% |
| Median price per kg | ≈ $36.74 / kg | ≈ $31.23 / kg |
| Typical taste | Bright, more acidity, fruity and floral notes of the origin | Bittersweet and roasty: cocoa and spice, heavy body, low acidity |
| Often brewed as | Filter, pour-over, AeroPress | Espresso, moka pot, milk drinks |
Catalog figures are shares of the independent roasters’ coffees on Cafendo that list each fact, worked out again every day; prices per kilo are indicative. Caffeine: per gram of beans, light and dark roasts hold about the same; a scoop of light roast holds a little more, because its beans are denser.
Top picks: Light roast
Ecuador
El Salvador
EthiopiaTop picks: Dark roast
Achilles Coffee Roasters2. SAN YSIDRO – MEDIUM DARK ROAST COFFEE SINGLE ORIGIN COLOMBIA
Colombia- Dark
$16.49≈ $48.47 / kg
Redber Coffee Roastery3. COLOMBIA EXCELSO HUILA - Dark Roast Coffee
- Colombia
- Washed
- Dark
$7.68≈ $18.00 / kg
Costa RicaQuestions and answers
What is the difference between light roasts and dark roasts?
Light roast: 445 coffees from 137 roasters on Cafendo; Dark roast: 881 coffees from 201 roasters. Roasters describe light roasts most often with chocolate and citrus, and dark roasts with chocolate and nuts. Median price per kilo: Light roast ≈ $36.74 / kg, Dark roast ≈ $31.23 / kg.
Does light or dark roast coffee have more caffeine?
Caffeine: per gram of beans, light and dark roasts hold about the same; a scoop of light roast holds a little more, because its beans are denser.
Which is more bitter, light roasts or dark roasts?
Dark roasts taste more bitter and roasty, with a heavier body and less acidity; light roasts keep more acidity and the flavours of their origin. Medium roasts sit in between.
Which is fruitier, light roasts or dark roasts?
In the roasters’ tasting notes, 64% of light roasts name fruit (citrus, berries, stone fruit, tropical or dried fruit), against 31% of dark roasts.
Where do light roasts and dark roasts come from?
Most light roasts come from Ethiopia (25%), Colombia (19%), and Brazil (13%); most dark roasts from Brazil (25%), Indonesia (20%), and Colombia (18%).
Which is more expensive, light roasts or dark roasts?
Light roasts cost more: a median of ≈ $36.74 / kg, against ≈ $31.23 / kg for dark roasts, from the sizes and prices roasters list (indicative).
Where can I buy light roasts and dark roasts?
Cafendo does not sell coffee itself: each coffee links to a shop that sells it, usually the roaster’s own, and the shop sets the price and delivery.
How we picked
Cafendo does not taste or score coffees, so the list ranks what the catalog can tell. Each coffee gets points for:
- each day in the last 90 on which visitors went to the roaster’s shop for it (up to 10);
- each fact the roaster gives: producer, variety, process, altitude, region, tasting notes (up to 6);
- a photo and a price (1 each), and an average rating of 4 stars or more (2).
- At most two coffees per roaster; no commercial brands and no Amazon listings. Origin lists take single origins only.
Nobody pays for a place. The lists are worked out again every day from the catalog. How Cafendo orders its lists