Starbucks Caffe Verona vs. French roast: which one is stronger?

Finding the right Starbucks roast for you can be an uphill task, especially when it’s between two similar roasts. I have a high affinity for dark roasts, and Caffe Verona and the Starbucks French roast are always on top of my list. I went to a grocery store recently and found a couple of ladies fiercely arguing about which roast between Verona and French is stronger. This inspired me to come up with this post to compare the two. By the end, you will see our verdict on which roast is stronger, so keep reading.

What are the differences between Starbucks Caffe Verona vs. French Roast?

Features	Caffe Verona	French Roast
Ingredients	Latin American and Asia/Pacific Arabica coffee	Latin American coffee Arabica
Taste Profile	Light chocolate undertones	Intense smokiness, chocolate, and caramel undertones
Caffeine/Nutritional Value	130mg of caffeine per short cup, 0 calories, 0 fats, 0 carbs, 0 proteins	130mg of caffeine per short cup, 0 calories, 0 fats, 0 carbs, 0 proteins
Availability/ Accessibility	Permanently	Permanently
Roast Level	Dark	Dark

Starbucks Caffe Verona vs. French Roast-How they compare

What it’s made of (ingredients)

The Starbucks Caffe Verona is a beautiful blend of Latin American and Asian/Pacific coffee beans. Starbucks is well-known for its ethically sourced Arabica coffee from these regions. Every region produces unique-tasting beans.

On the other hand, the French roast is 100% coffee Arabica from Latin America. This roast solely gets its coffee beans from one region. In the end, the flavor is balanced and uniform.

In this category, Caffe Verona takes an early lead. The blend of two types of coffee beans adds depth to this roast.

Taste profile

The taste of Caffe Verona is a nice blend of the earthy coffee taste with chocolate undertones. You will be delighted by the lightness of this dark roast without the overwhelming bitterness associated with roasts of its kind.

The French roast at Starbucks is not for the faint-hearted. It is intensely smoky, with a bittersweet finish. If you are starting on coffee, you might want to hold this roast for a while. As you sip, you will pick up toffee notes with dark caramel sweetness.

In this category, the French roast takes the lead. It starts with an intense flavor that declines into a sweet, caramel, and chocolate flavor.

Caffeine content/nutritional value

In dark roasts, the caffeine is always lower than their lighter counterparts. Contrary to what you might think, the darker the roast does not mean the higher the caffeine. In this case, Caffe Verona has around 130mg of caffeine per short serving. Like all other coffees, it has 0 fat, 0 carbs, 0 calories, and 0 proteins.

The French is also a dark roast, meaning the caffeine is relatively low. The roast gives you 130mg for a short serving which is low considering that it’s a coffee beverage. The calories, fat, protein, and carbs come at 0.

In this category, we get a draw. The coffee roasts are dark roasts meaning they have similar nutritional facts and caffeine.

Availability/ Accessibility

Caffe Verona is an all-year-round roast at Starbucks. You can easily access it online on Amazon, eBay, and Walmart. Starbucks has measures to ensure a steady flow of its coffee beans, including a Starbucks coffee farm in Costa Rica.

You will rarely walk into a grocery store and lack this roast. It is unlikely that you will miss it on Amazon and Starbucks. The coffee roast is readily accessible and available permanently on the menu.

In this category, we have a draw. Both roasts are readily available and easy to access.

Roast level

The Caffe Verona is roasted at a moderately dark roast. This means that it doesn’t fully achieve the intense smokiness of the French roast. The beans for these roasts are taken out of the roaster a little earlier than the French roast.

The French are the darkest roasts at Starbucks. It is only seconds away from bursting into flames, and the skilled roaster knows exactly when to take it out. All the natural oils are found on the surface of these coffee beans due to the intense roasting.

In this category, the French roast takes the lead as the darkest of all roasts.

Starbucks Caffe Verona vs. French Roast: A comparison Overview

Starbucks Caffe Verona-Overview

The Caffe Verona is as seductive in taste as the city it is named after. This Italian-inspired blend I a dark roast minus the intense smokiness and burnt taste. I liked how low the acid was and how its taste was bearable. I was impressed by the cocoa undertones and how full-bodied it was. You could grab a whole bean pack and grind it at home to suit your coffee machine. The caffeine was on the moderate side.

What I liked

• The low acidity
• The full-bodied, chocolate taste

What I didn’t like

• The relatively low caffeine

Who it’s best suited for

• This dark roast is best suited for those who can’t stand the intense smokiness of darker roasts.

Starbucks French Roast-Overview

This is the darkest and most intense in flavor among all Starbucks blends. I liked that it has low acidity and the smokiness toned down to a sweet caramel and chocolate taste. I also liked it for intense espresso and the great flavor it produced when added to milk.

What I liked

• The low acidity
• The sweet chocolate and caramel undertones

What I didn’t like

• It came off as intensely smoky

Who it’s best suited for

• This roast works best for those who do not kind the intense smokiness.

Final Verdict: So, which is better? Starbucks Café Verona vs. French Roast

The French roast is stronger in the taste and intensity of its flavor and takes the lead. Most avid coffee lovers do not mind the intense smokiness and prefer the burnt taste that blends well with notes of chocolate and caramel sweetness.

FAQ SECTION

Which one has a higher roast level between French roast and Verona?

The French roast is the highest as it is the darkest roast you can find at Starbucks.