Do Medium Roast Coffee Beans Have More Caffeine?

The short answer is no, not significantly. While it is a common myth that light or medium roasts have "more" caffeine because less is "burned off," the truth is that caffeine is incredibly stable during roasting. Any difference in caffeine content usually comes down to how you measure your freshly roasted coffee beans: by scoop (volume) or by scale (weight).

The Science: Volume vs. Weight

To understand caffeine levels, we first need to understand what happens to a coffee bean when it is roasted. As green coffee beans are heated, they lose moisture and expand in size, much like popcorn.

Dark Roasts: These beans are roasted longer, making them larger (puffier) and lighter in weight because they have lost more moisture.

Medium/Light Roasts: These beans are smaller and denser because they retain more moisture and mass.

This difference in density is where the confusion lies.

If you measure by scoop (Volume):

Since light and medium roast beans are smaller and denser, more of them fit into a single scoop. Therefore, a scoop of medium roast will contain more actual coffee mass, and thus more caffeine, than a scoop of dark roast.

If you measure by scale (Weight):

If you weigh your coffee (e.g., 20 grams), you are using more individual dark roast beans to reach that weight because they are lighter. In this scenario, the caffeine content is virtually identical, or sometimes even slightly higher in the dark roast due to the higher bean count.

What The Experts Say

The debate has been settled by industry heavyweights who have analysed the chemical composition of roasted coffee.

James Hoffmann, a World Barista Champion and renowned coffee educator, has conducted extensive testing on this topic. His analysis confirmed that while caffeine degrades very slightly at extremely high temperatures, the difference is negligible for the average drinker. He emphasises that extraction efficiency (how well you brew the coffee) plays a much bigger role in your final caffeine kick than the roast level does.

The general consensus among Australian coffee professionals is that the "caffeine kick" people associate with dark roasts often comes from the bitterness and bold flavours, which can psychologically feel "stronger," even if the chemical stimulant level is the same as a smooth medium roast.

Roast Level Comparison

The Perfect Brew: Measurements & Ratios

To get the best flavour and caffeine efficiency from your medium roast beans, precision is key. Forget the scoop; use a kitchen scale.

Ingredients:

• Freshly Roasted Medium Roast Coffee Beans

• Filtered Water (93°C - 96°C)

Recommended Ratio (1:16):

• For a single cup: 15g of coffee to 250ml of water.

• For a double cup: 30g of coffee to 500ml of water.

Steps:

• Weigh your beans to ensure consistency.

• Grind fresh, medium coarse for drip/pour-over, fine for espresso.

• Pour water slowly to saturate grounds evenly.

• Aim for a total brew time of 2:30 to 3:00 minutes.

Top Medium Roast Picks

For the best experience, you need high-quality beans that haven't been sitting on a supermarket shelf for months. We recommend these fresh options from Coffee Hero:

• Kickstart - Medium to Dark Roast Blend: Perfect if you are transitioning from dark roasts. It offers the punchiness you love with the nuance of a medium roast.

• Smooth Operator - Medium Roast Organic: An award-winning blend that lives up to its name. balanced, rich, and incredibly smooth.

• Ethiopia Yirgacheffe - Single Origin: A classic medium roast choice known for its floral and citrus notes. This is for those who want to taste the "origin" of the bean.

• Colombia Supremo Tenza Valley: A versatile single origin that works beautifully as both a black coffee and with milk.

• Peru Kontiki - Organic Single Origin: A fantastic organic option with a clean finish, perfect for your daily morning ritual.

Why Freshness Matters

At the end of the day, the "strength" and quality of your coffee depend heavily on your supplier. Coffee Hero prides itself on being a consistent supplier of freshly roasted coffee beans. Unlike generic store-bought bags that may have been roasted months ago, getting your beans from a dedicated roaster ensures you are brewing with peak flavour and aroma.

Whether you are a home brewer perfecting your morning pour-over or a business owner looking to serve the best flat white in town, consistency is everything. High-quality, freshly roasted beans are the secret ingredient that turns a caffeine fix into a culinary experience. Visit Coffee Hero to explore the range.