Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and there are many ways to enjoy it. But how do you choose the best coffee roast for your taste? In this blog post, we will explain the four main types of coffee roasts: light, medium, medium-dark, and dark. We will also give you some tips on how to brew and serve your coffee according to your preferred roast level.
What is a Coffee Roast?
A coffee roast is a heat process that turns green coffee beans into brown, fragrant beans that we know and love. Roasting brings out the aroma and flavor that is locked inside the beans, as well as changes their physical characteristics such as color, texture, and caffeine content.
Roasting is both an art and a science. It takes years of training to become an expert roaster with the ability to “read” the beans and make decisions with split-second timing. The difference between perfectly roasted coffee and a ruined batch can be a matter of seconds.
What are the Four Main Types of Coffee Roasts?
There are four general categories of coffee roasts: light, medium, medium-dark, and dark. However, these roasts break down to even more minuscule distinctions, which are a blast to explore if you’re looking to expand your coffee palate.
Light Roast
A light roast has a pale yellow or cream color and a mild flavor with low acidity and bitterness. It has about 10-15% of its original weight in caffeine. A light roast is ideal for people who prefer a smooth and easy-drinking cup of coffee without much complexity or intensity.
Some examples of light roasts are:
- Cinnamon roast: This is the point where coffee becomes drinkable. It has high acidity and citrusy flavor with floral and grassy notes.
- Breakfast roast: This is also known as French roast or Vienna roast. It has a nutty flavor with hints of caramel or chocolate.
- City roast: This is also known as New York roast or London roast. It has a slightly darker color than breakfast roast but still retains some sweetness.
Medium Roast
A medium roast has a golden brown color and a balanced flavor with moderate acidity and bitterness. It has about 15-20% of its original weight in caffeine. A medium roast is ideal for people who want a versatile cup of coffee that can be enjoyed black or with milk or cream.
Some examples of medium roasts are:
- Espresso: This is also known as Italian roast or ristretto. It has a rich flavor with notes of chocolate or nuts.
- Mocha: This is also known as mocha latte or mocha frappuccino. It has added chocolate syrup or cocoa powder that gives it an extra layer of sweetness.
- Cappuccino: This is also known as cappuccino macchiato or cappuccino americano. It has added steamed milk that creates foam on top.
Medium-Dark Roast
A medium-dark roast has an amber brown color and a full-bodied flavor with high acidity and bitterness. It has about 20-25% of its original weight in caffeine. A medium-dark roast is ideal for people who like their coffee strong and bold with some smokiness or earthiness.
Some examples of medium-dark roasts are:
- Espresso blend: This is also known as espresso blend macchiato or espresso blend americano. It combines different types of beans such as Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, etc., to create a complex flavor profile.
- French press: This is also known as French press potpourri or French press brewer. It uses coarse grounds that create sediment at the bottom but also enhance the body and aroma of the coffee.
- Dark chocolate: This is also known as dark chocolate bar or dark chocolate cake. It has added cocoa solids that give it an intense sweetness and bitterness.
Dark Roast
A dark roast has an almost black color and a full-bodied flavor with low acidity but high bitterness. It has about 25% or more of its original weight in caffeine. A dark roast is ideal for people who love their coffee very strong and intense with some smokiness or charred notes.
Some examples of dark roasts are:
- Espresso blend dark roast: This is also known as espresso blend dark brewer or espresso blend dark grinder. It uses very fine grounds that create little sediment but also reduce the body and aroma of the coffee.
- French press dark brewer: This uses very fine grounds that create little sediment but also reduce the body and aroma