Roast level
German: Röstgrad Also known as: Röststufe
A measure of how far coffee has been roasted, from light with more acidity to dark with roast aromas and bitterness.
The roast level describes how far the roasting process has progressed. Light roasts emphasise the character of the bean and usually have more acidity, while dark roasts taste stronger, more bitter and of roast aromas, with fruit notes receding. Visually this shows in the colour of the beans.
There is no uniform, legally defined scale; terms such as light, medium or dark, filter roast and espresso roast vary from roaster to roaster. Dark-roasted coffee is often used for espresso, but this does not automatically make it higher in caffeine.