TYPE OF COFFEE ROAST

Each coffee roast brings different characteristics to the taste of the brew, ranging from positive to negative. In this article, I will be going over all the different type of coffee roasts. So let’s start!

 Key Points to Types of Coffee Roasts

•     The roasting process introduces distinct flavours.
•     Light roasts are dry, while dark roasts are oily.
•     The darker the roast the less acidity.
•     The darker the roast the less caffeine.

Roast Styles

Duration of roast is an important factor when it comes to bringing out different flavors in a cup. The process of roasting even has its own flavor that tends to overshadow the other flavors and characteristics that a bean might normally have. The most important thing to consider is your own preference. There is no “best” roast style. However, I find that medium to medium dark (full city) are the most accessible, especially to folks who drink black coffee.

    Light roasts are typically the most acidic without much body (heaviness).
    Medium roasts are slightly less acidic and begin to develop different taste notes unique to certain beans.
    Medium dark (full city) roasts have less acidity and more body. The Starbucks chain carries this style, according to Kenneth Davids (mentioned above). This is my preferred roast style for many bean origins.
    Dark roasts have lower acidity and are typically much heavier. The roasting process brings about a certain sweetness and the taste of the roasting process takes over.

Light Roast

The Light Roast is the first stage of coffee roasting. Some may refer to this roast as the “First Crack” because during this roasting stage the beans crack and expand. Cracking at a temperature of 385F, the “First Crack” can be comparable to popping corn.
Requiring the lowest temperature and time out of the coffee roasts, this is one of the easiest roasts and a great starting point for any beginner roaster. This roast retains most of the bean’s flavour and antioxidants, making it the healthiest of the roasts.
In colour, the beans are light brown and dry with no trace of oil. The light roast is very aromatic delivering floral and fruit notes, along with a light body that packs the most acidity out of all the roasts.

Medium Roast

The Medium Roast is known to be the most ideal out of all the roasts, delivering a perfect balance of acidity and body fullness. Having a sweeter profile than the light roast, this roast delivers a lot more flavour due to longer roasting process. Many people favour this roast because of its slight bitterness, low acidity and distinct flavours.
The beans are medium brown with no oil and have a stronger aroma. Due to the higher roasting temperature (430F), the beans lose around 13% of their weight.

Medium-Dark Roast

The Medium-Dark Roast beans are a darker colour showing signs of some oil. This roast has a heavier body than the light and medium roast, offering a spicy and bittersweet after taste. The roasting temperature of this bean is between 440F and 455F. Depending on your taste preference, the medium-dark roast and dark roasts are ideal for espresso blends.

Dark Roast

The Dark Roast is known as the “Second Crack” the beans are dark brown, sometimes even black. Its colour is very comparable to dark chocolate. They have a nice gloss of oil on the bean’s surface, this is also reflected in the brew. The brew is very thick, giving the drinker a smoky and slightly burnt aftertaste. It has a very pronounced bitterness, leaving you with no acidity. The roasting temperature of this bean is between 465F to 480F. Due to the high roasting temperature, the Dark Roast has the least amount of caffeine compared to the roasts.
Source : https://thecoffeeguru.net/types-of-coffee-roasts/