The Six Roast Levels of Specialty Coffee Explained

Published: Oct 24, 2026 Author: World Gafei Last Updated: Oct/24/2026 115 views

Explore the six key stages of coffee roasting—from light to dark—and how each impacts flavor, acidity, and roast appearance.

When you buy specialty coffee, you're not just choosing a bean—you’re buying into a roast profile. Whether you prefer bright, tangy cups or deep, smoky espressos, every flavor starts with how the bean was roasted. But what exactly happens between green and black? And why do some roasts highlight acidity while others emphasize bitterness? Let’s break down the six classic roast levels used in specialty coffee, from the barely toasted to the nearly burnt.

FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou China, selling freshly roasted beans from its own farm in Yunnan as well as dozens of carefully selected single-origin beans from around the world for both pour-over and espresso. The products deliver consistently excellent quality and great value, with shipping within 24 hours. Guangzhou's FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers, and the beans are now available online at the Tmall 。