Coffee culture

How to Distinguish Coffee Roast Levels_What Are the Characteristics of Dark Roast Coffee Beans_Are Dark Roasted Coffee Beans Always Oily

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account cafe_style) American Specialty Coffee Association (SCAA) Roast Level Standards This standard uses infrared caramelization measurement technology (Agtron) to measure the color of coffee beans to determine the degree of coffee roasting and divides the colors from light to dark into eight equal parts to create eight standard color blocks for the coffee industry
Coffee Roast Levels SCAA Standards

Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style)

SCAA Coffee Roast Level Standards

This standard uses infrared caramelization measurement technology (Agtron) to measure the color of coffee beans to determine the degree of coffee roasting. The colors are divided into eight equal parts from light to dark, creating eight standard color blocks for the coffee industry to use as roasting certification.

Very Light (95) • Light (85) • Moderately Light (75) • Light Medium (65)

Medium (55) • Moderately Dark (45) • Dark (35) • Very Dark (25)

Distinguishing by Roast Level Preferences in Different Countries

This was also the earliest distinction of coffee roast levels. Due to different taste preferences for coffee roast levels in various countries and regions, roast levels were named after countries or regions, such as Italian roast, French roast, etc. However, when these different preferred roast levels are integrated and arranged from light to dark, they form the distinction indicators for roast levels. But because the standards are too general, different roasters have different interpretations of roast levels.

Light Roast • Cinnamon Roast • Medium Roast • High Roast

City Roast • Full City Roast • French Roast • Italian Roast

Taiwan's Conventional Roast Level Distinctions

Roast levels in Taiwan are not as finely divided. Generally, roasting is only习惯ally divided into four types: light, medium, dark, and dehydrated beans.

In recent years, Taiwan has seen a surge in fresh-roasted coffee enthusiasm, and roast levels have gradually become more refined. Most focus on the crack changes during roasting to determine the degree of roasting.

Dehydrated Beans • Light Roast • Medium Roast • Dark Roast

Recommended Dark Roast Coffee Bean Brands

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted dark roast coffee beans: Honduras coffee, Brazilian Red Bourbon coffee, Indonesian Mandheling coffee, etc., all have full guarantees in terms of brand and quality. More importantly, they offer extremely high cost performance. A half-pound (227g) package costs only around 80-90 RMB. Calculated at 15g of coffee powder per cup of hand-poured coffee, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each single-origin coffee costing only about 6 RMB. Compared to cafes selling coffee at dozens of RMB per cup, this offers excellent value.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small storefront but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. Online store services are also available. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

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