The coffee equivalent a big, full-bodied Cabernet, Empire is as bold as the famous Corsican empire-builder that inspired the label. While this coffee is what is known in North America as a French roast, its actually much darker than a traditional French coffee. The coffee is roasted to the point that the beans reach a deep, dark brown color and aromatic oils coat the surface of the beans. Roasting beyond the second crack to develop this color brings out bittersweet, smoky notes in the beans and mutes the brighter, winy notes.