DetailsDark RoastItalian Roast. Coffee is an art form in Italy, and no one settles for a timid cup. So when we created a coffee that waves the Italian flag, we wanted something robust and expressive. Our roasters answered with a sturdy coffee that's darker than our Espresso Roast but not as smoky as French. We love it for its rich, roasty sweetness, medium body and clean finish.Enjoy with: Tiramisu and a slideshow of Rome.Our Dark Roasts. We roast coffees darker to achieve specific flavors-from subtle notes of caramelized sugar to a bold smoky taste. It takes special beans to go this dark. Anything other than dense, high-grown Arabica beans will turn to ash and leave an unpleasant finish. But when a good bean meets a skilled roaster, ah, that's something to be reckoned with.The Starbucks Italian Roast