dark roast
noun
plural dark roasts
: a coffee roast (see roast entry 2 sense 3) that is characterized by dark brown coffee beans with an oily texture, low acidity, high bitterness, and low caffeine content and that is produced by roasting coffee beans at temperatures typically between 440-480°F (230-250°C)
A dark roast is useful for smoothing out imperfections in beans that have little flavor or an unbalanced acidic range, because chlorogenic acid, the main acid in coffee, is destroyed at high temperatures.—
Corby Kummer
Corby KummerDark roasts actually have less caffeine than their counterparts. While a cup of dark roast coffee will have the boldest flavor, it will lack the same potency.—BostonBean Coffee Company
compare light roast, medium roast
BostonBean Coffee CompanyExamples of dark roast in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In addition to protein drinks, Starbucks plans to introduce new baked goods and a new dark roast coffee next year.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 July 2025
While Punk Bunny Coffee is known for their dark roasts, their pop-punk-inspired branding also helps the brand stand out in a crowd.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2025
Coffee offers whole beans, grounds, and pods in light, medium, or dark roasts.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2025
Does the lemon pâte de fruit in a macadamia meringue find similar notes in a dark roast from Nicaragua?
—Adrienne So, Wired News, 1 May 2025
Light roast, medium roast, dark roast; everything can be tailored.
—Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
That Seattle connection seemed lacking in the cup shy of the characteristic dark roast kick.
—Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Sips also sells coffee, such as a Gold Coast medium roast and a Bronzeville dark roast.
—Shanzeh Ahmad, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025
Otherwise, Stone Street’s Arabica Colombian Supremo dark roast and Bizzy's organic Smooth & Sweet Blend are two favorites of former WIRED reviewer and cold-brew aficionado Jeff Van Camp.
—Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024
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Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 July 2025
While Punk Bunny Coffee is known for their dark roasts, their pop-punk-inspired branding also helps the brand stand out in a crowd.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2025
Coffee offers whole beans, grounds, and pods in light, medium, or dark roasts.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2025
Does the lemon pâte de fruit in a macadamia meringue find similar notes in a dark roast from Nicaragua?
—Adrienne So, Wired News, 1 May 2025
Light roast, medium roast, dark roast; everything can be tailored.
—Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
That Seattle connection seemed lacking in the cup shy of the characteristic dark roast kick.
—Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Sips also sells coffee, such as a Gold Coast medium roast and a Bronzeville dark roast.
—Shanzeh Ahmad, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025
Otherwise, Stone Street’s Arabica Colombian Supremo dark roast and Bizzy's organic Smooth & Sweet Blend are two favorites of former WIRED reviewer and cold-brew aficionado Jeff Van Camp.
—Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Dark roast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dark%20roast. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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