Light vs. Dark Roast: Which Should You Choose?

30 septembre 2025

At Micro Espresso, your Montreal coffee roasters, one of the most common questions we hear is: Should I choose light roast or dark roast? The truth is, both roasting styles bring out different sides of coffee, and the right choice depends on your taste. Let’s explore the difference — and introduce you to two of our customer favorites.

What is a Light Roast?

Light roast coffees are roasted at a lower temperature for a shorter time, preserving more of the bean’s natural flavors.

Flavor profile: Bright, lively, and complex with fruity or floral notes.
Acidity: Higher, giving a crisp and refreshing cup.
Body: Lighter, often tea-like.
Best for: Pour-over, Aeropress, and anyone who enjoys exploring nuanced flavors.

Our Sweet Passion from Colombia is our best-selling light roast. It’s a vibrant coffee with beautiful fruit-forward notes and a clean finish. Perfect for those who want to experience the richness of origin character in every sip.

What is a Dark Roast?

Dark roast coffees are roasted longer at higher temperatures, bringing out bold and robust flavors.

Flavor profile: Rich, chocolatey, nutty, sometimes smoky.
Acidity: Lower, producing a smoother taste.
Body: Full, round, and heavy.
Best for: Espresso, French press, or anyone who loves a traditional “coffee” taste.

Our Dark Mode Brazil (medium-dark roast) is one of the most popular coffees we roast. Smooth and comforting, it pairs beautifully with milk and carries those classic flavors people often look for in a daily coffee. While light roasts shine in competitions and trends, many coffee drinkers still crave a roast that tastes like coffee — and Dark Mode delivers.

Which Roast is Right for You?

Choose light roast if you want to explore fruity, floral flavors and a lively cup.
Choose dark roast if you prefer a smooth, chocolatey profile that goes great with milk.
Or keep both on hand: many of our customers enjoy Sweet Passion in the morning and Dark Mode later in the day.

Freshly Roasted in Montreal

At Micro Espresso, we roast in small batches and ship directly from Montreal, so your beans arrive fresh and full of flavor.

Discover our full range of coffees — including our customer favorites Sweet Passion (light roast) and Dark Mode Brazil (medium-dark roast) — at www.microespresso.com.