Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It is well known for its refreshing and energizing capacity. We Americans have even added it to our daily consuming list. There are many types of and flavors for coffee available today. For this reason, you may get a little confused about which one to prefer over the other.
Keeping that in mind, we will now make you familiar the different types of coffee roasts. But before that, a question might peep through your mind –
Why Should You Roast Coffee Beans?
Coffee beans are seedlings of purple or red fruits collected from a certain species of coffee. The raw coffee beans are naturally green in color that lack in flavor and aroma. Without the aroma and flavor that we get from the traditional roasted coffee, you may not be willing to continue consuming coffee anymore.
During the roasting process, many physical and chemical changes take place in coffee beans. These changes give them the classy brown color and the unique aromatic flavor. Moreover, it’s easier to brew roasted beans.
In short, you wouldn’t get that familiar aroma of coffee unless the beans are roasted. In fact, roasting coffee on your own is a better option than buying instant coffee. You can experience a variety of taste this way that any coffee lover deserves.
Different Types of Coffee Roasts
1. Light Roasts:
Light roasted beans are roasted for a low amount of time in a low temperature, generally ranging between 356°F to 401°F, till the first crack. They are light brown in color with a dry and pale surface. This is because they normally don’t have oil on their outer surface and they don’t get enough heat to bring out the lipids that remain inside.
For the same reason, caffeine and acids don’t break out of the body. As a result, light roasted beans are more caffeinated and acidic compared to other types. Due to the extra acidity, the coffee made out of these beans has a citrus tone of flavor.
Moreover, light roast beans come with a wide range of taste profiles and it’s easier to recognize these profiles distinctly. If you like light, aromatic and fruity coffee notes, you can go for this option. Cinnamon, Half City, and New England are examples of light roasts.
2. Medium Roasts:
Medium roasted beans are roasted till the temperature reaches 410°F to 428°F just before the second crack occurs. They are medium brown in color. The beans still don’t have much oil on the surface and remain somewhat dry. The body of the medium roast is fuller and less acidic than that of light roasts.
The bitterness of the flavor gets enriched and most people find this flavor as a balanced one. Moreover, the caramelization introduces some sweetness. As it is very popular in America, you may call it American roast. If you are willing to go for a traditional flavorful cup of coffee, medium roast is your option. City, American, and Breakfast are a few examples.
3. Medium-Dark Roasts:
They are roasted till the temperature reaches between 437°F to 446°F just after the second crack. They are dark brown in color with a semi-oily surface as the temperature is high enough to bring the lipids out in the form of oils. They give a slightly bittersweet taste because the beans get nearly enough time to be roasted and caramelized. If you like deep flavor with a slightly bittersweet taste note, you can choose medium-dark roasts. Full city, and Vienna are a few examples.
4. Dark or Full Roasts:
Medium roast coffee beans are roasted till the temperature reaches 410°F to 428°F just before the second crack. They become nearly black in color with a shiny and oily surface. The coffee beverage has less caffeine and acidity. Dark roasts have a noticeable bitter taste. If you like a strong flavor, this is what you need. Continental, Viennese, and French are a few examples of full roasts.
5. Double Roasts:
Double roast beans are roasted till the smoke begins to come out. A smoky charred flavor replaces the original flavor of the coffee beans. They may have a little sweetness in them. Though French roast is an example of double roasts, the typical French roasts available are not enough roasted as the true ones.
6. Espresso:
Espresso is a little different from others. This requires an Italian method in which nearly boiled water passes through finely-ground coffee beans of different roasts to yield a high-concentration creamy drink. It has more caffeine than other coffee beverages. There are different espresso machines available to make the task easier for you.
Conclusion
As you now know a bit about all of the types of coffee roasts, you can choose the right one for you. You can buy the raw beans and make your own roasts, or simply buy a bag of roasted coffee beans. There are many coffee roaster machines that can ease the roasting process. If you are still not sure what to choose, we suggest that you start trying all of the roasts one by one and find out which one best suits you.
FAQ:
1. What type of coffee roast is best?
Medium-dark roasts have the richest flavor of all. Along with the full-bodied flavor profile, the bitterness is within a pleasant limit.
2. Which is stronger coffee light or dark roast?
Light roast coffee is stronger as it contains more caffeine than others. In the darker ones, the caffeine decreases with the rise in heating temperature and time.
3. Which coffee is the strongest?
Espresso coffee is the strongest. The concentration of coffee fines is higher and there is a larger amount of caffeine available per unit volume of the coffee beverage comparatively. As caffeine is the indication of how strong the beverage is, espresso is the strongest.
