coffee talk

light vs dark roast

i noticed that light roast coffee didn’t sit well.
the taste was fine, but the effect wasn’t.
it left me feeling unsettled—more tension, less clarity.
dark roast felt better across the board.

so we looked into it.

light roasts tend to have more caffeine per gram.
they’re more acidic, with higher levels of chlorogenic acids.
that can increase stimulation, histamine release, and gut reactivity—especially in sensitive systems.

dark roasts have less caffeine, lower acidity, and partially broken-down oils.
they’re less likely to trigger histamine or overstimulate the CNS.
the effect was more stable.

there may also be a mild clearing effect.
very dark roasts contain compounds that behave a little like activated carbon—able to bind small amounts of gut irritants.
not therapeutic, but noticeable.

bitterness itself activates the vagus nerve, which may also contribute to the calming effect.

this isn’t about flavor preference.
it’s a physiological difference.
light roast was increasing signal noise.
dark roast reduced it.

for me, now:
dark roast only. light roast introduces unnecessary complexity.