What is an influence of the roast degree on coffee flavor?

The influence of the roast degree on coffee flavor is significant, particularly with darker roasts, which tend to impart a more bitter profile. As coffee beans roast, the heat causes chemical reactions that transform the flavors present in the green beans. In darker roasts, the prolonged exposure to heat leads to the development of bitter compounds due to the breakdown of sugars and the emergence of more robust flavor notes.

Darker roasts also experience a reduction in acidity as the roasting process progresses, which can lead to a flavor profile that emphasizes rich, bold, and often bitter tastes rather than the bright, fruity, or floral notes typically found in lighter roasts. This transformation occurs because the natural sugars present in the beans caramelize and eventually char, yielding a less sweet and more bitter flavor.

Thus, the correct answer illustrates a key aspect of how roast levels influence taste, particularly highlighting the characteristic profiles associated with darker roasts in contrast to lighter ones.