Light vs. Dark Roast Caffeine: The Myth Finally Settled
"Oh, you need a little extra boost? You should get that light roast then, it's got more caffeine."
This is a direct quote, and the scenario unfolded thusly: A barista recommended the light roast because it had more caffeine to an unsuspecting customer who wanted to really wake up that day. The result? The customer choked down some light roast they didn't really enjoy in order to glow in the placebo effect.
What is truth?! Where is the most bang-for-your-buck caffeine?
I'll give you the TLDR version here: it doesn't really matter. Drink what you like. If you really need an extra boost, toss in a shot of espresso and next time try to get some more sleep, mmkay?
If you want the long version, carry on.
THE MYTH:
Dark roast coffee has more caffeine because it's bolder and stronger.
THE CONTRASTING MYTH:
Light roast has more caffeine because it's roasted less and that means more of the caffeine stays in the bean.
THE TRUTH:
Caffeine is incredibly stable. Most of it survives the roast, even the darkest roast. It’s more complicated than either side claims.
Light roast beans are denser, so there is more caffeine per scoop, if you're measuring your coffee by volume.
Dark roast beans lose density, but the caffeine may be more accessible because of the longer roast time meaning the caffeine (which is water soluble), is easier to extract from a coffee that has been more developed.
Which brings us to the sneaky third option:
Medium roast may actually deliver the most in the cup, thanks to better extraction balance.
HOWEVER!
Please bear in the mind that there are slight variations from origin to origin and throughout different plants. Remember coffee is a diverse and wild and beautiful drink, crafted from beans varietals grown in many different origins, and all of these impact the makeup of your individual cup of coffee.
Robusta, for instance, has approximately 2x the caffeine of Arabica, and is blended into many conventional coffees.
Brew method also impacts caffeine. Cold brew and espresso extract differently than pour over or French press.
YOU. You are individual and a bright shining light of a person and you have a body that handles caffeine differently than other folks. So if YOU are jittery after a light roast and that leads you to assume that it's got more caffeine than the dark roast your Dad always brewed up, you might be right. Or your Dad might have used less coffee-to-water ratio. Or you might just be impacted by those light roast sweet Ethiopian beans.
Whether you’re a light roast purist, a dark roast devotee, or somewhere in between, the best way to find your perfect balance of flavor and energy is to try for yourself. Explore our fresh roasts right this way.