When it comes to selecting the right coffee for your taste, there are as many options as there are coffee aficionados. After all, different people have different tastes when it comes to coffee. Therefore, if you’re looking to expand your understanding of what makes a great cup of coffee beyond just black or espresso, you should learn more about the various types of roasts and how they differ from each other. In this blog post, we will explore the 4 main types of coffee roasts and their differences so that you can make an informed choice the next time you are shopping for new beans or trying to figure out why your favorite batch doesn’t seem to be working anymore.
What is a Coffee Roast?
When it comes to selecting the best beans for your coffee, you want to know the roasting level of the beans and how it affects the flavor and aroma of your coffee. The roast of the beans you choose will have a great impact on both the taste and aroma of the final product. Even when the same beans are roasted, each roasting type will result in different aroma, body, and flavors. There are 4 main types of roasts associated with coffee beans — light, medium, medium-dark, and dark — each of which produces a slightly different flavor from the other types. Choosing the right roast can be a challenging task since there are so many factors that come into play when deciding on a roast for your beans.
Light Coffee Roast
Roasting beans to a light roast is the process of turning them light brown and producing a very light-bodied taste. Since this roast is done at a temperature of 355°F – 400°F, the heat doesn’t pull out the caffeine and acidity. This process yields a very bright, crisp flavor with high levels of acidity and caffeine. This is the roast that is most commonly used. It is the ideal roast for any type of coffee that requires an extended brewing time, such as french press, cold brew, or filter coffee.
Medium Coffee Roast
The medium roast is the midpoint between light and dark roasts and has a little more body than a light roast and less acidity. The medium roast is achieved by roasting the beans at a temperature of 410°F – 430°F, to a point past the first crack, and right before the second crack appears. This roast is the most common type of roast used for coffee. It’s considered to produce a balanced flavor that is ideal for any type of coffee, from a french press, or drip coffee to americano and even espresso.
Medium-Dark Coffee Roast
The medium-dark roast is obtained by roasting the beans at a temperature of 435°F – 445°F to the point right after the second crack occurs. In this roast, the oils of the beans start to show on the surface of the beans. The medium-dark roast produces a richer, robust flavor with a full body and a very low level of acidity. The medium-dark roast can be used for almost all types of coffee but will perfectly fit Espresso, and Espresso-based drinks like Americano, or Cappuccino.
Dark Coffee Roast
The dark roast is the darkest that can be used for coffee. It produces a very strong and robust flavor with a full body and sweeter flavors. Dark roast has the least caffeine and acidity among all other roast levels. Reaching a dark roast requires a heat of 465°F – 480°F to a point oils are well visible on the surface of the beans. Dark roast typically overshadows the natural flavors of the coffee beans in a way that beans that were very distinct under a light roast, won’t be so far apart when dark roasted. This is the roast commonly used for espresso, which makes a full-body, robust, and rich shot of coffee.
What is the difference between a dark and a light roast?
Dark roasts are the darkest and are ideal for producing a robust shot of espresso. While it is also suitable for Americano and other Italian coffee drinks, it is generally not recommended for filter or drip coffee due to its strong flavors and robust body. Light roasts are relatively light and produce a very light-bodied taste. Although it is suitable for brewing a variety of coffee drinks, such as lattes and Americanos, it is generally not recommended for espresso due to its lack of body and high acidity.
What are the Benefits of each Roast?
The way your coffee is roasted will impact the final quality and flavor of the coffee. The different roasts will produce a slightly different flavor, depending on the beans and the method of brewing. Depending on your personal preferences, a lighter roast will provide a light body coffee, boosted with caffeine, and lemon-like acidity. Darker roasts will have richer flavors, a full body, and notes of sweetness.
Which Coffee is Right for me?
If you are new to the world of coffee, it can be difficult to know where to begin. One of the first things you will want to do is figure out what type of coffee you prefer and what that tastes like to you. Once you know your preferences, you can begin looking at different coffees that best suit your tastes. This will help you find the perfect coffee for you and your needs.
Conclusion
Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, with an estimated 400 million people daily consuming it. The variety of tastes in coffee can be overwhelming, but with a little experimentation, you can find one that suits your needs. Now you know what a coffee roast is, what types of roasts there are, and what each level of roast is ideal for. In this article, we covered the different types of roasts, their differences, and how they impact the final quality of your coffee. We hope that this article helps you make an informed decision when it comes to choosing the right roast for your beans.
You are invited to check our picks and find superior, fresh, roasted coffee beans from light to dark.