Starbucks Blonde Roast vs Dark Roast: Which one should you choose?
Starbucks offers various roasts and whenever I’m getting an espresso-based drink from the coffeehouse, I’m usually torn specifically between the blonde and dark roast. Settling on one roast can be tricky as both roasts have their strengths and weaknesses. Recently I decided to get both roasts, have them side by side and do an in-depth comparison of the two. Also, I asked Starbucks baristas and various customers for their opinion on which roast they thought was better. This article contains everything I discovered during my research and survey. Read on to find out which roast you should choose the next time you visit Starbucks.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Starbucks blonde roast vs dark roast?
Feature. |
Starbucks Blonde Roast. | Starbucks Dark Roast. |
Ingredients. |
100% Arabica coffee beans from Latin America and East Africa. |
100% Arabica coffee beans from the Asia Pacific and Latin America. |
Taste profile. |
Soft, balanced, smooth, mellow, sweet, bright and slightly acidic taste with hints of citrus and caramel-y flavour. |
Rich, bittersweet, dark cocoa taste with deep, decadent chocolaty flavours and toasted marshmallow and burnt sugar notes. |
Caffeine content/ Nutritional value. |
The caffeine content in the different Starbucks blonde roast sizes is as follows; Short (8fl oz.) – 180mg. Tall (12fl oz.) – 270mg. Grande (16fl oz.) – 360mg. Venti (20fl oz.) – 475mg. One shot (1fl oz.) – 85mg. The nutritional values of the Starbucks blonde roast are; Calories – 5 Total fat – 0g Saturated fat – 0g Trans fat – 0g Cholesterol – 0mg Total carbs – 0g Dietary fibre – 0g Sugars – 0g Protein – 0g (Note: All the blonde roast sizes have the same nutritional values except the caffeine levels) |
The caffeine content in the different Starbucks dark roast sizes is as follows; Short (8fl oz.) – 155mg. Tall (12fl oz.) – 235mg. Grande (16fl oz.) – 310mg. Venti (20fl oz.) – 410mg. One shot (1fl oz.) – 75mg. The nutritional values of the Starbucks dark roast are; Calories – 5 Total fat – 0g Saturated fat – 0g Trans fat – 0g Cholesterol – 0mg Total carbs – 0g Dietary fibre – 0g Sugars – 0g Protein – 0g ( Note: All the dark roast sizes have the same nutritional values except the caffeine amounts) |
Availability/accessibility. |
Readily available in all Starbucks stores and on the Starbucks app. |
Also readily available in all Starbucks stores and on the Starbucks app. |
Roast Level. |
Lightly roasted between the temperatures of 356 and 401 degrees Fahrenheit. |
Heavily roasted between the temperatures of 464 and 482 degrees Fahrenheit. |
Starbucks Blonde Roast vs Dark Roast – How they compare.
What it’s made of (Ingredients).
The Starbucks blonde roast is made from lightly roasted 100% Arabica coffee beans, from Latin America and East Africa. According to Starbucks, they source their Arabica coffee specifically from these regions, due to the regions’ unique topography, which consistently produces high-quality beans. The specific countries where Starbucks gets their Arabica coffee beans include; Ethiopia, Kenya, Brazil, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Honduras and Guatemala.
The Starbucks dark roast is also made from 100% Arabica coffee, but the beans are roasted intensely and for a longer period and the beans are sourced from the Asian Pacific and East African countries. These countries include; Kenya, Ethiopia, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, India and Vietnam.
Out of the four major types of coffee beans; Arabica, Excelsa, Liberica and Robusta, Starbucks uses only Arabica. According to the company, this is because of the versatility and richness of the Arabica beans.
In this category, it is a draw since the company uses the same ingredient (100% Arabica beans) in both roasts.
Taste profile.
The Starbucks blonde roast has a mellow, smooth, acidic and bright taste with a caramel-y flavour and notes of oranges and lemons. Compared to the dark roast, the blonde roast is less oily and the original flavours of the coffee beans are still predominant. Due to the short roasting period, the blonde roast beans retain most of their acidity thus the acidic taste and lemony aftertaste in the end product.
The Starbucks dark roast, on the other hand, has a rich, bittersweet, decadent chocolaty, buttery taste with pronounced deep, smoky, charred and burnt sugar flavours and notes of toasted marshmallows. The dark roast is less acidic. Since the dark roast is roasted for longer, most of its acidity is broken down by the heat thus the less acidic and charred taste and flavour.
In this category, we also have a tie since some people will prefer the sweet and bright blonde roast and others will prefer the bitter and richer dark roast. Be sure to try out both roasts to discover which one you like best.
Caffeine content/ Nutritional value.
The Starbucks blonde roast caffeine content is as follows; 8 fl oz. of blonde roast has 180mg of caffeine, 12fl oz. contain 270mg, 16fl oz. contain 360mg and 20fl oz. contain 475mg of caffeine. A shot (1fl oz.) of the Starbucks blonde roast has 85mg of caffeine. The blonde roast from Starbucks retains most of its caffeine content during the short roasting period.
The Starbucks dark roast caffeine content is as follows; 8fl oz. of dark roast has 155mg of caffeine, 12fl oz. contain 235mg, 16fl oz. contain 310mg and 20fl oz. contain 410mg of caffeine. A shot (1fl oz.) of the Starbucks dark roast has 75mg of caffeine. Most of the caffeine is broken down in the dark roast coffee beans during the intense, longer roasting period.
Other nutritional values like calories, of both roasts, are the same.
In the caffeine content category, the blonde roast wins since it has more caffeine and most people consume coffee for the caffeine kick.
Availability/Accessibility.
Both the blonde and dark roast are readily available in all Starbucks stores and on the company’s app, therefore, in this category, it is a draw.
Roast Level.
The Starbucks blonde roast is roasted for a shorter period, typically before the first crack, between 356 and 401 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Starbucks dark roast, on the other hand, is roasted for longer, usually until the third crack or right before the third crack, between 464 and 482 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to expert coffee roasters, the crack during roasting is what tells you what roast the end product will be.
In this category, we also have a tie since the preference for the lighter or darker roast is subjective. Different customers prefer different roast levels.
Starbucks Blonde Roast vs Dark Roast: A comparison overview.
Starbucks Blonde Roast – Overview.
The Starbucks blonde roast is slightly acidic, sweet and fruity with bright and citrusy flavours. This roast is made from lightly roasted 100% Arabica coffee beans from Latin America and East Africa. The blonde roast is the most caffeinated roast at Starbucks with 85mg of caffeine in a single shot.
What I liked;
- The mellow and sweet taste with bright, citrusy notes.
- The high caffeine content.
- The smooth and palatable body.
What I didn’t like;
- The acidity of the roast.
Who it’s best suited for;
- The blonde roast is best suited for those that hate the bitter and charred flavours of regular coffee and prefer something sweet that is still caffeinated.
Starbucks Dark Roast – Overview.
The Starbucks dark roast has a bittersweet and dark cocoa taste with smoky and charred flavours. This roast is prepared with 100% Arabica coffee beans that have been roasted between 464 and 482 degrees Fahrenheit. It is the least caffeinated roast at Starbucks, with 75mg of caffeine in a shot (1fl oz.).
What I liked;
- The rich decadent chocolaty taste with toasted marshmallow flavours.
- The significant caffeine content.
- The richer and fuller body.
What I didn’t like;
- The bitter, charred aftertaste.
Who it’s best suited for;
- This roast is best for those that enjoy the rich, bitter and burnt flavours of coffee.
Final Verdict: So, which is better? – Starbucks Blonde Roast vs Dark Roast.
Both roasts are equally good since the ingredient used is the same. Whichever roast you will enjoy the most depends on your needs and preferences. Some enjoy the sweet and mellow flavours of the blonde roast while others love the bitter taste of the dark roast.
FAQ SECTION.
Is Starbucks dark roast stronger than a blonde roast?
In terms of flavours, the dark roast is stronger, however, in terms of caffeine content and acidity, the blonde roast is stronger than the dark roast.
Which one tastes better between a dark roast and a blonde roast?
Taste is subjective. If you prefer fruity, sweet and bright flavours, the blonde roast will be perfect for you. However, if you prefer strong, bitter and pronounced flavours, the dark roast will be a better choice for you.
What is the difference between a blonde roast and a dark roast?
A blonde roast is roasted for a shorter period while the dark roast is roasted for longer. The caffeine content and acidity levels in the blonde roast are higher than in the dark roast. The dark roast has deep, rich and bitter flavours while the blonde roast has smooth, bright and fruity flavours.
Which one has a more balanced flavour between blonde roast and dark roast?
This is also subjective. Some find the bittersweet and rich flavours of dark roast balanced while others find the sweet and acidic flavours of the blonde roast more balanced.