About roasting
Coffee beans are green when they come off the tree, and go through a process called roasting that extracts the flavours you have come to enjoy. The bean takes on different flavors depending on how long it is roasted
Light roasts, also called cinnamon give a light bodied flavor to the brewed coffee.
Medium roasts, such breakfast, or American roasts, give a balance of body and flavour.
Dark roasts, such as French, Italian, and Viennese, have been roasted until the oils reach the surface of the bean, and give a heavy flavor to the brewed coffee.
Since the oils in coffee are volatile, the bean begins to lose flavor once it has been roasted. The best coffee can be had by buying fresh roasted coffee that has been properly packed, and then storing it properly at your home.