light, medium or dark roast?

what changes in the roaster?

Green coffee turns brown as it roasts. Heat and time help shape the flavour. A lighter roast tends to bring out more of the coffee’s own character. A darker roast brings the flavour of roasting further forward.

Neither label tells the whole story. Two light roasts can taste very different, so look for the tasting notes as well.

where does medium fit?

Medium sits between light and dark, but the boundaries vary from roaster to roaster. There is no single colour chart everyone follows. The Specialty Coffee Association describes how even experienced coffee professionals can disagree about the same beans.

Use the labels to compare coffees within one roaster’s range. When you try a different roaster, read the notes rather than expecting the same roast name to taste identical.

filter, espresso and omni

In our catalogue, these words tell you how the coffee is intended to be brewed. They are not three shades of roast. Filter is for filter brewing, espresso is for an espresso machine, and omni means either method.

If you already have a brewer, start with that recommendation. Then choose the flavours that catch your attention.

see the coffees and brewing recommendations

choose your next cup

Think of a coffee you liked. Did you enjoy its fruit notes, its nutty character or a more roasted flavour? Use that as your starting point.

Our mixed drip sets contain seven single-origin coffees. You can try different cups with the same simple preparation: a cup and hot water.

• Read the tasting notes alongside the roast label.
• Tell us how you make your coffee when you send a request.
• Change one part of your recipe at a time when comparing cups.

compare the drip sets

read about washed and natural coffee