All those pods are putting a crimp in coffee sales

[Major Nikon]

149. Starbucks also sells lighter roasts

I'm no fan of Starbucks, but their methods are good. They grind right before brewing, use the right amount of coffee, brew at the right temperature, and they brew into a closed system which retains flavor until serving.

Some people like dark roasts whether or not they add anything to their coffee. With dark roasts you do lose much of the flavors which are in the beans, however the roasting process itself does add flavor. So the difference is you are tasting the roast more than the bean itself. Dark roasts also tend to be less acidic, which is important to many people. I don't like dark roasts, but lots of people do and there are good reasons to do so.

For single serve, one excellent method is the Aeropress. It makes very strong coffee that you add hot water to get whatever strength you want. It makes an excellent cup of brewed coffee and is very easy to use and clean the device.