FINE NUANCES of : nicety of coffee beans roasting

NUANCE (Fr. nuance) — shade, fine distinction, slightly noticed difference (in taste, color, thought, sound and so on).
Roast is one of the main coffee “secrets” and the first characteristic to choose when selecting a coffee. The darker the roast — the less true coffee flavor. In fact, the French roast, the darkest on the market, is so dark that the flavor is pronounced smoke with only slight hints of coffee. There are several roast levels:
Vienna/City Roast, 11-13 minute roast
Italian/Full City Roast, 13-15 minute roast
French Roast, 15-18 minute roast

Peak City Roast is the standard roast and our lightest roast. If you like lots of coffee flavor then this is the coffee for you. The Peak City roast is characterized by chestnut brown beans without surface oil. Note, if you do not specify a roast then we automatically ship this roast. This is the coffee roast that true coffee connoisseurs prefer. Consider steaks. (No offense intended toward the vegetarians out there.) The majority of people like medium done steaks. However, true steak aficionados like their steaks on the rare side for the most flavor, and then there are those people who prefer well-done smoky flavor over the steak flavor and thus order well-done.

Vienna Roast is a medium roast coffee and is characterized by dark brown color with small spots of oil on the bean's surface. If you are not sure of which roast to order or want something with a little more roast flavor than the peak city then this is your roast. Of course, we offer roast designated house blends. To try a good all-around Vienna roast just ask for the Vienna roast blend.

Italian Roast is a dark roast coffee and is characterized by dark brown color with rich amounts of oil on the bean's surface. If you want an extremely strong roast flavor while retaining a good amount of coffee flavor then this is the roast for you. Two of the best selling Italian roast blends are the Velvet Hammer Blend and Velvet Espresso Blend.

Dark Italian Roast is the extra dark roast coffee and is characterized by a very dark brown, almost black color with large amounts of oil on the bean's surface. Coffee flavor at this roast is 75% roast flavor and 25% coffee flavor. A good Dark Italian Roast is the Latte Blend, which makes a great drip, French style coffee or good espresso, Starbucks style espresso. Note: For small 6-8 oz. cup Italian/European style espresso, sweet and bright, order light roast espressos. For larger to-go cup, American style espresso drinks, chocolaty and rich, order dark roasts.

French Roast is the darkest roast coffee and probably the darkest coffee available in the world. It is characterized by black color with large amounts of oil on the bean's surface. Coffee flavor at this roast is 95% roast flavor and 5% coffee flavor. Sort of like drinking a cup of smoke with a coffee finish. For the best flavor, you should brew this coffee in a big basket brewer, which produces a more flavorful extraction. See brewing tips for more info. We really only roast one coffee to a 100% French roast. That's the French Roast blend. Of course, some of the bar blends include French roast beans to create complex flavors of toned-down lights.