How Brewing Temperature Varies For Dark And Light Roast Coffees

The differences between dark and light-roasted coffee extend beyond just their color. The level at which coffee beans are roasted has an effect on everything from the shade of the brew to the levels of caffeine to the best temperature for brewing the beverage. The shade of the coffee beans — light, medium, or dark — is indicative of how long they were roasted, and this roast level affects the taste of the brew. 

The water's job in the brewing process is to extract the flavor compounds from the ground coffee beans, and this is where temperature comes into play. Water that is too hot will result in a bitter-tasting coffee, and water that isn't hot enough will give you a weak and watery brew. The roasting process breaks down the cellular structure of the coffee, and since darker beans have undergone it for longer, they dissolve more easily and fare best at a lower temperature. Lighter roasts are more complete in structure, having spent less time in the process, and need a hotter temperature to dissolve.