French Roast vs Italian Roast: What's the Difference?

French roast and Italian roast are both dark roasts. Italian is usually the darker of the two. That is the short answer. The longer one is worth two minutes, because the difference decides which bag you will actually enjoy.

What the names mean

Neither name says where the coffee was grown. They describe how dark the beans were roasted, and they come from the roasting styles once popular in France and Italy. There is no official standard, so one roaster's French roast can be another's Italian. As a general rule, though, the order from lighter to darker runs: medium, medium-dark, French, Italian.

French roast

A French roast is taken well into dark territory. The beans are deep brown with a light sheen of oil. In the cup you get a heavy body, low acidity, and roasty, bittersweet flavors — the taste most people mean when they say they like "strong" coffee.

Our French Roast is a deep dark roast of specialty-grade Central American coffee: a rich, roasty aroma when you open the bag, a heavy body, and a long, clean finish. It is the one we reach for in a drip machine, a French press or a moka pot.

Italian roast

An Italian roast goes a step further. The beans are darker still and visibly oily. The flavors of the roast itself take over — smoky, bittersweet, intense — which is exactly what stands up to milk in a latte or cappuccino.

Our Italian Roast takes Central American coffees to an extra-dark, oily roast for deep, heavy flavor with a sweet smokiness. It is made for espresso and moka pot, and it makes a seriously strong drip.

Side by side

Roast level: French is dark. Italian is extra dark.
Look: French has a light oil sheen. Italian is darker and oilier.
Taste: French is bold and roasty with a clean finish. Italian is smokier and more intense.
Best brewed as: French for drip, French press and moka pot. Italian for espresso, moka pot and milk drinks.

Which one has more caffeine?

Neither one by much. Roasting darker changes the flavor far more than it changes the caffeine. If caffeine is what you are after, the kind of bean matters more than the roast — our Max Caf Blend adds Robusta, the coffee species that naturally carries more caffeine than Arabica.

Which should you buy?

Choose French Roast if you drink your coffee black or with a little cream, brew with a drip machine or French press, and want bold without smoky.
Choose Italian Roast if you pull espresso, use a moka pot, make milk drinks, or simply want the darkest cup we roast.

Like dark coffee but want to compare? Our 6 Bean Blend is the house dark roast, and the Best Sellers Sample Pack lets you taste six coffees before you commit to a bag.

How to brew a dark roast well

Dark roasts give up their flavor easily, so they are quick to turn bitter. Two small habits help: let the kettle sit for half a minute after it boils, and do not grind finer than your brewer needs. Our grind size guide shows which grind fits which brewer, and the 4-minute French press method is the easiest way to get a full, heavy cup from either roast.

The short version

Both are dark. Italian is darker, oilier and smokier. French is bold with a cleaner finish. French for the drip machine and the press, Italian for espresso.

Expect more. Enjoy aroma.