Roast Decoder
Roast Decoder
What light, medium, and dark actually mean.
The roast level determines how much the bean has been transformed by heat. It changes the flavor, the acidity, the body, and — contrary to what most people believe — not the caffeine by much.
Light Roast
Higher acidity. More complex, origin-forward flavor — floral, fruity, tea-like. The bean's natural characteristics come through because the roast hasn't masked them. Harder to brew well because the margin for error is smaller.
Medium Roast
The balance point. The acidity softens. You get more sweetness, body, and chocolate or caramel notes. Broad appeal, forgiving to brew. Fire Watch and MOAB both land here — accessible but not watered-down.
Dark Roast
Lower acidity. Bold, bitter-leaning, with chocolate, smoke, and earthy notes. The roast is the dominant flavor, not the origin bean. Easier to drink black for people who grew up on diner coffee.
Light roast has more caffeine than dark roast — by weight. Roasting burns off a small amount of caffeine. Dark beans are also more porous and less dense, so you get fewer milligrams per gram. The difference is small, but the common belief is backwards.
ARC Roast Map
| Product | Roast | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeline | Light | Colombian light — bright, clean, highest natural caffeine |
| Fire Watch | Medium | Colombian medium — balanced, reliable core roast |
| MOAB | Medium | Double caffeinated Robusta blend — medium profile, maximum output |
| Cavalry | Dark | Dark blend — bold, straightforward, no frills |
| 15W40 | Dark | Italian dark roast — heavy-bodied, built for pressure brewing |
| Spectre | Dark | Dark espresso roast — intense, concentrated, built for the machine |
| BLANKS | Decaf | Decaffeinated medium — same ritual, no caffeine |