June 03, 2024
What is the difference in coffee roasts?
Coffee roasts refer to the different levels of roasting that coffee beans go through during the production process. The roast level of a coffee bean affects its flavor and aroma, with darker roasts typically having a more robust and intense flavor, and lighter roasts having a more subtle and nuanced flavor.
There are four main levels of coffee roasts: light, medium, medium-dark, and dark.
- Light roast: Light roast coffee beans are roasted to a temperature of around 396-400 degrees Fahrenheit. They have a light brown color and a dry surface, and they retain much of their original flavor characteristics. Light roast coffee has a bright and acidic flavor, with prominent notes of fruit and citrus.
- Medium roast: Medium roast coffee beans are roasted to a temperature of around 420-430 degrees Fahrenheit. They have a medium brown color with nutty aromatics. Medium roast coffee has a balanced and smooth flavor, with notes of caramel and chocolate.
- Medium-dark roast: Medium-dark roast coffee beans are roasted to a temperature of around 430-440 degrees Fahrenheit. They have a dark brown color and slightly oily surface, and there is a loss in their original flavor characteristics. Medium-dark roast coffee has a rich and bold flavor, with notes of chocolate and spices.
- Dark roast: Dark roast coffee beans are roasted to a temperature of around 460+ degrees Fahrenheit. They have a very dark brown color and a shiny, oily surface, and they have lost almost all of their original flavor characteristics. Dark roast coffee has a smoky and intense flavor, with notes of bittersweet chocolate and roasted nuts.
Overall, the difference in coffee roasts lies in their appearance, flavor, and aroma. Light roast coffee is bright and acidic, medium roast coffee is balanced and smooth, medium-dark roast coffee is rich and bold, and dark roast coffee is smoky and intense.
