Choosing the right roast can make a big difference to the flavour in your cup. Light, medium and dark roasts don’t just look different - they each bring their own level of brightness, sweetness and intensity.
Here’s a simple guide to help you select the best Vittoria roast for your preferred brew method:
Espresso machines & moka pot
Choose a medium to dark roast. Medium roasts give you a balanced cup with some sweetness and gentle acidity, while dark roasts dial up body and intensity. These profiles extract rich, full-bodied flavours with low perceived acidity and work especially well if you enjoy your espresso with milk. Blends like Espresso, Mountain Grown or Oro are popular choices.
Milk-based coffees (flat white, latte, cappuccino, mocha)
Go for a medium-dark or dark roast. Darker roasts bring a bolder “coffee” flavour, lower acidity and notes like chocolate, nuts, malt or caramel that cut through steamed milk beautifully. This is ideal if you like a rich, classic café-style cup.
Black coffee (espresso, short black, long black, Americano)
If you drink your coffee black, a medium roast is a great starting point. It balances sweetness and acidity while still letting you taste the character of the beans. If you prefer a brighter, more vibrant cup with fruity or floral notes, try a lighter roast; if you like a stronger, more robust flavour and less acidity, lean towards the darker end of the spectrum.
Filter, pour-over or Aeropress
Choose a light to medium roast. Lighter roasts tend to preserve more of the bean’s natural character and can showcase citrus, berry or floral notes, which shine in pour-over and other filter methods. Medium roasts remain very versatile here, giving you a bit more sweetness and body while still staying balanced.
Cold brew
For cold brew, a light or medium roast works well if you enjoy a refreshing, nuanced cup with gentle sweetness and lower perceived acidity. Darker roasts can be used if you prefer a deeper, more chocolatey profile.
If you’re unsure, start with a medium roast – it’s the most versatile and performs well across most brewing styles, from espresso to filter.
For a deeper dive into how roast level affects flavour, see Light, Medium and Dark Coffee Roasts Explained on our blog.