How to choose among SanDunBan Digital Series No. 1 to No. 6? What flavor differences do the numbers represent?

SanDunBan Digital Series No. 1–6 are numbered by roast level from light to dark: the smaller the number, the lighter the roast, the brighter the acidity, the more pronounced the floral and fruit notes; the larger the number, the darker the roast, the higher the body, the stronger the caramel/chocolate/nut flavors, and the more intense the bitterness. The core logic for picking a number is to match your preferred roast level/flavor profile, not to choose by "strength" or "caffeine content".

#Flavor & Roast Level Reference Table

No.	Roast Level	Typical Flavor Keywords	Suitable For / Scenarios
No. 1	Very Light / Light	White flowers, citrus, green apple, jasmine, bright acidity	Seasoned drinkers who love pour-over flavors, seek high acidity, explosive floral/fruit notes
No. 2	Light	Citrus, tropical fruit, honey, floral, balanced acidity & sweetness	Newcomers to specialty coffee, prefer fruit acidity but not too sharp
No. 3	Medium-Light	Yellow peach, caramel, nuts, cream, balanced acidity & bitterness	Highest mass appeal, great for daily black coffee or with milk
No. 4	Medium-Dark	Dark chocolate, caramel, roasted nuts, cocoa, low acidity high sweetness	Like full body, making iced lattes / oat milk bases
No. 5	Dark	Dark roast chocolate, smoky, spice, heavy body, almost no acidity	Traditional dark roast lovers, espresso flavor needs, flavor holds up with milk
No. 6	Very Dark	Heavy caramel, charred bitterness, tobacco, extremely low acidity, extremely high body	Love intense bitterness/rich mouthfeel, making double-shot Americanos or milk coffee bases

#How to Choose? Three-Step Decision Method

1. First, decide roast preference
   • Only had commercial dark roast / Italian blends → start with No. 4
   • Love bright fruit acidity in pour-over / Americano → pick No. 1/2
   • Want the "safest, no-regret" daily can → No. 3 is the recognized balanced choice
2. Then consider drinking method
   • Black / Iced Americano: No. 1–3 show the most complete flavor layers
   • With milk / oat / making lattes: No. 4–6 have high body, flavor cuts through milk
   • Cold brew / long steep: No. 2/3 express sweetness best
3. Finally, fine-tune with "small can tasting"
   • Official often promotes "Grand Slam" / "Digital Series Sampler" (6 cans × 1 piece each or 18-piece mix), ~5–8 RMB per piece, low-cost way to try the full series

#Common Misconceptions Clarified

• Number ≠ Strength / Caffeine: Freeze-dried process fixes each piece at ~1.8–2.0 g, extraction yield is consistent; strength mainly depends on water volume.
• Number ≠ Quality Grade: No. 1 and No. 6 are both SCA 80+ beans, just different roast curves.
• "Acidity" ≠ "Defect": The bright acidity in No. 1/2 is a specialty coffee trait; if not your cup of tea, jump straight to No. 3+.

#Advanced Reference: Origin & Processing Differences (vary by batch)

No.	Typical Origin / Processing Examples	Flavor Tendency Notes
No. 1	Ethiopia / Panama Natural / Washed	High altitude, most explosive floral/fruit
No. 2	Ethiopia / Colombia Washed / Honey	Fruit acidity & sweetness more rounded
No. 3	Colombia / Guatemala / Brazil Washed / Natural	Balanced, nutty caramel base
No. 4	Brazil / Colombia / Indonesia Natural / Wet-Hulled	Creamy chocolate, strong body
No. 5	Brazil / Sumatra Dark Roast Blend	Classic Italian flavor profile
No. 6	Indonesia / Brazil Very Dark Roast Blend	Charred bitterness, smoky, heavy mouthfeel

#Practical Tips

• First order for beginners: Buy No. 3 single can (18-piece ≈ 89 RMB) + 1 piece each of No. 1/2 samplers, covering "safe + exploration".
• Stock-up strategy: During 11.11 / 618 sales, 18-piece cans often hit 4.9–5.5 RMB/piece; stock 2–3 months' worth based on monthly consumption.
• Pitfall avoidance: If extremely sensitive to acidity, skip No. 1/2; if you only drink milk coffee, No. 1/2 flavors get masked by milk, less value than No. 4/5.

Bottom line: The number is a roast-level coordinate. On the spectrum from acidity → sweetness → bitterness, moving from No. 1 to No. 6, pick the right roast level and you pick the right flavor.