The Pitch Rating
We rate roast like you rate a roof
Roof pitch is rise over a 12-inch run. A 4/12 walks easy. An 11/12 has you reaching for roof jacks. Our pitch rating uses the same numbers for coffee: the higher the pitch, the darker the roast and the bolder the cup.
How the pitch rating works
Every roofer can size up a roof from the driveway. A low pitch means an easy walk and a quick day. A steep one means harnesses, roof jacks and a long afternoon. We wanted a way to pick coffee that felt just as natural, so we put every roast on the same scale roofers already use.
On a roof, a 6/12 pitch rises 6 inches for every 12 inches it runs. On our boxes, the number tells you where the coffee sits between light and bright and dark and bold. Our lightest roasts start at 4/12 and our darkest, Ridge Cap, tops out at 11/12. Nothing in the lineup is rated flat, because nobody needs a flat cup of coffee.
The lineup, pitch by pitch
| Pitch | Coffee | Roast | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | Low Slope | Light roast | Fresh fruit, Citrus, Light body |
| 4/12 | Skylight | Light roast | Blackberry, Caramel, Black tea |
| 5/12 | Starter Strip | Light-medium roast | Pear, Lemon, Blueberry |
| 7/12 | Punch List (Decaf) | Decaf · medium roast | Earthy, Herbal, Dark chocolate |
| 8/12 | Storm Chaser | Medium roast | Chocolate-covered almond, Maple syrup, Citrus |
| 10/12 | The Tear-Off | Medium-dark roast | Cocoa, Toasted nut, Full body |
| 11/12 | Ridge Cap | Dark roast | Baker’s chocolate, Caramelized sugar |
Light end of the scale: 4/12 to 5/12
The low pitches are where the fruit lives. Skylight and Low Slope are both light roasts rated 4/12, bright and lively, with blackberry and caramel in Skylight and fresh fruit and citrus in Low Slope. Starter Strip steps up to 5/12: a light-medium, natural-process Ethiopian single origin with pear, lemon and blueberry. These shine as pour-over or a carefully measured drip pot.
The middle: 7/12 to 8/12
Storm Chaser sits at 8/12, a bold medium roast of Brazilian and Mexican beans with chocolate-covered almond, maple syrup and citrus. It is the coffee to start with if you are not sure where you land. Our decaf, Punch List, is a medium roast at 7/12, with earthy, herbal and dark chocolate notes and low acidity.
Steep end: 10/12 to 11/12
The Tear-Off is a medium-dark roast at 10/12, rich and full-bodied with cocoa and toasted nut, smooth enough to drink black. Ridge Cap is where the scale runs out at 11/12: a dark roast with deep body, baker’s chocolate, caramelized sugar and a smooth, velvety finish. Both are at home in a French press or a jug of cold brew.
Why a roofing scale
Because the people drinking it already think in pitch. Every coffee in the lineup is also named after a piece of the job, from the starter strip that goes down first to the ridge cap that goes on last. If you want the real numbers behind a roof, our roof pitch chart lists every pitch from 1/12 to 24/12 in degrees, and the calculator will tell you which coffee matches your own roof.
Straight Answers
Pitch rating questions
Is the pitch rating a caffeine rating?
No. It rates roast and boldness, not caffeine. Roast level changes caffeine very little. If you want less caffeine, Punch List is our decaf.
Why does decaf sit at 7/12?
Punch List is a medium roast with full body and low acidity, so it lands in the middle of the scale. Being decaffeinated does not change how dark it is roasted.
Where do the pods and instant fit?
Each pod box carries the rating of the 12 oz coffee inside it: Low Slope Pods 4/12, Storm Chaser Pods 8/12 and Ridge Cap Pods 11/12. Quick Patch instant is rated for any pitch.
How do I measure the pitch of my actual roof?
Use our roof pitch calculator or look it up in the roof pitch chart. Both give the angle in degrees, percent grade and the pitch multiplier.