Here’s a rough guide if you’re wondering what the coffee strength numbers mean. But bear in mind, different brands may scale their coffees differently. Silver Skin / Chaff: A very fine layer with a silver sheen to it, which is where the name originates. This layer remains on the seeds (coffee beans) and is removed by the roasting process. It can often be referred to as chaff.

Outer Skin / Exocarp: Coffee seeds are covered by flesh, much like a regular cherry. At the beginning of fruit development, this outer layer of the coffee cherry is green. As the fruit matures, it turns yellow, then orange, and finally a ripe red. Before the coffee beans are roasted, they must go through a special preparation stage, which can be done through either a washed or a natural process. Medium roast coffeeWell-balanced and smooth, which makes it a popular choice - the beans possess a non-oily surface. Dark roast coffeeRich and intense. NESCAFÉ GOLD BLEND Roastery Collection Dark Roast is a dark roast coffee with intense flavours and wonderful cacao notes. The beans will be very shiny with lots of oil and dark in colour. Interestingly, the smaller the grind, the more caffeine the blend contains. Incredibly fine ground coffee boasts the highest extraction and thus, the most caffeine content. Coffee usually comes ground as one of the following:Light roast coffeeGenerally lighter and more citrusy in flavour, which is due to the fact that the beans aren’t roasted long enough for the oils to break through. Our NESCAFÉ GOLD BLEND Roastery Collection Light Roast is lightly roasted and boasts notes of rich caramelised honey and toasted biscuit. Medium-dark roast coffeeFull-bodied and well-rounded with a slightly oily surface. Our iconic NESCAFÉ Original blend is a medium dark roast coffee that’s perfectly balanced. When it comes to knowing coffee, understanding strength and flavour will make your world so much rewarding.