Two of the most useful details in a coffee description are the processing method and the roast level. Together, they help explain how a coffee is likely to taste.

Processing influences sweetness, body, and fruit character. Naturally processed coffees often lean toward deeper sweetness and fuller profiles, while washed coffees tend to be cleaner and more structured. Honey-processed coffees typically fall somewhere in between.

Roast level determines how those characteristics are expressed. Lighter roasts preserve more of a coffee’s inherent qualities, while medium roasts develop additional sweetness and balance. Roast level helps explain how origin and processing come together in the final cup.

Neither process nor roast level is about better or worse. They are tools that shape the coffee’s final profile and help set expectations.