Did you know that coffee beans boast a truly unpleasant taste until they have been roasted?
Coffee cherries are picked from the plants and then the pulp is removed before the beans are washed and dried. What remains are green coffee beans that deliver none of the treasured flavour and aroma that you would associate with coffee.
It is the roasting process that imbues coffee beans with their special qualities. Roasting triggers a series of chemical reactions that change the colour of the beans and release the unique flavour notes.
Creating acidity, bitterness and sweetness, roasting transform the taste of coffee beans, enabling them to deliver a veritable symphony of flavours. There are three categories of roast – light, medium and dark although there are overlaps. Every coffee lover will find their favourite roast, but do you know which you prefer?
What is the coffee roasting process?
During roasting, coffee beans are heated to varying temperatures and over specific durations to create the desired results. The higher the temperature, the darker the beans become. Complex carbohydrates are broken down into sugar molecules during the process, imbuing coffee with sweetness. Those molecules can be dissolved in water to release their flavour. But the longer beans are roasted for, the more the sweetness turns to bitterness.
The different roasts that are identified on bags of coffee refer to the point at which the roasting process is stopped.
What is light roast coffee?
Light roast coffee is roasted for a short time, typically 5-7 minutes and at temperatures between 180°C and 205°C. During the process, the beans expand and release their oils, giving them their delicious flavour and wonderful aroma. Courtesy of the short roasting time and low temperatures, the beans retain their unique characteristics and provide bright, acidic and fruity flavour profiles.
What does light roast coffee taste like?
You can expect to benefit from fruity, floral and nutty notes. Light roast coffee tends to be clean and crisp in nature. The flavour will depend on the specific beans but will never be overpowering or bitter.
What is light roast coffee best for?
Light roast coffee is best for drip coffee, pour-over, and cold brews. Ideal for coffee drinkers that appreciate the unique characteristics of different beans, light roast coffee boasts significant acidity that cuts through any milk or cream that is added.
What is medium roast coffee?
Medium roast coffee is roasted for a longer time than a light roast coffee, typically for 9-11 minutes and at temperatures between 210°C to 220°C. The resulting beans are medium brown in colour and have slighting oily surfaces. Thanks to the longer roasting time and higher temperatures, medium roast beans deliver richer and more robust flavour than light roast coffee beans.
What does medium roast coffee taste like?
Expect greater sweetness and a little bitterness with medium roast coffee. Some of the unique qualities of the beans will be lost as will acidity but you will still benefit from brightness and fruitiness. You can look forward to well-rounded and balanced flavour that isn’t overpowering together with a smooth feel. Depending on the beans used, you might experience nutty, chocolaty or caramel notes accompanied by a complex aroma.
What is medium roast coffee best for?
Medium roast coffee is incredibly versatile and so can be used to craft a variety of drinks. It’s a great choice for drip coffee, pour-over, espresso, and French press coffee. It’s also perfect for lattes, cappuccinos and Americanos.
What is dark roast coffee?
Dark roast coffee is usually roasted for 14-15 minutes and at temperatures of 240°C to 250°C. The lengthy roasting process and high temperatures create dark brown beans with oily surfaces. Dark roast coffee undergoes the greatest chemical changes during roasting. It develops a rich, smoky and somewhat bitter flavour profile. You will find that the intrinsic qualities of the beans are masked but this can be a good thing if the coffee beans are of poor quality.
What does dark roast coffee taste like?
With dark roast coffee you will experience higher levels of bitterness and fewer nuances of flavour. The coffee will feel heavier than medium or light roast coffee and can deliver a strong aftertaste. You may detect certain powerful notes such as chocolate, tobacco or liquorice. Dark roast coffee is strong, bold, full-bodied and earthy.
What is dark roast coffee best for?
The bold and bitter flavour of dark roast coffee lends itself to expresso-based drinks including lattes and cappuccinos. It is less than ideal for pour-over coffee but works well in both cooking and baking.
What is a roast date?
Quite simply, the coffee roast date printed on a bag of coffee indicates when that batch of beans was roasted. Coffee beans are initially stored in their green state as this enables them to be stored for longer. After the beans have been roasted, they should be used within a limited amount of time as their flavour will diminish.
Coffee is at its best 7-21 days after roasting. It is safe to use until its expiration date but may not taste as good after being stored for a lengthy period of time. Once opened, a bag of coffee should be kept in an airtight container as exposure to the air will accelerate the degradation of the beans.
Which coffee roast should you choose?
As coffee is a matter of personal taste, each coffee drinker will have their own preferences. There is no doubt that the way you take your coffee will influence your choice. It could be that you favour a particular roast for one type of drink and another roast for your other drinks. You may even develop a passion for a specific variety of bean.
We recommend that you try examples of all three roasts before deciding what’s right for you. We are all creatures of habit and so it could be that you are investing in the same type of coffee every time you shop simply because it is what you are used to. Why not treat your taste buds to something different as you could find that you prefer it?
Better still, invest in several different coffees to give yourself variety. Ringing the changes will keep things interesting and will refine your palate. Why savour a single note when you can enjoy an entire symphony of delicious coffee?