Common Differences Between Coffee Roasts

With over 800 potential flavours and scents, it pays to research the Common Differences Between Coffee Roasts.  While the caffeine content reduces, the longer the bean is roasted, the overall strength increases. The longer the coffee bean roasts, the darker they become, with light roast coffee being a light brown colouring, to dark roast coffee that is dark brown and very oily. But the biggest difference is likely to come in the actual taste of the coffee itself. So, let’s look at the four major roasts that might come into account.

Light Roast Coffee

Light roast coffee is among the most popular choices for those who like their coffee to be nice and basic. They heat the beans for the least time possible, and this can give you that light brown colouring to the coffee bean in general.
However, they tend to be coffee beans that crack at around 350-400F, which can give you a very nice taste. In addition, they are usually not roasted beyond the first crack, which means they tend to be quite free from the oils you might find with other coffee blends.
Light roast coffee is very popular for having quite earthy and acidic tastes. However, if you like your coffee to be natural in taste without being too harsh, then this is the level of blend you should try.

Medium Roast Coffee

Next on the list is medium roast coffee, which usually peaks at around 410-430F in terms of roasting heat. They are taken off the heat just before the second crack, allowing the roast to be more balanced than some of the blends you will likely try. They are usually in a standard, medium brown colouring and usually have a large body than the light roast mentioned above. Unlike darker blends and roasts, you will find that medium roast coffee is also entirely free of the oily surface. Also, they come with a less acidic taste and are probably the most balanced or natural-tasting roast of coffee.
Medium roast is often the most common coffee roast used in the morning. This is because they make up many coffee brands and tend to balance taste, caffeine content, and scent well.
The full-on dark roast coffee solution is the most common choice of ‘dark’ coffee. These are often the most popular kinds of coffee for a lot of users and tend to give you that rich, shiny, and almost oily surface as you go. Not only is this very rich and dark brown in shade, but it’s sometimes even black in terms of tone.
The beans are heated to around 465-485F, giving you a very deep and rich taste. The second crack is usually enough, but a lot of dark roasts go beyond the standard second crack. The roasting process reduces the richness of the caffeine but leaves you with an almost charcoal-like taste.

Medium-Dark Roast Coffee

It is the second strongest and darkest profile coffee roasts it is very rich and dark colour. Not only does this make it very easy for you to know that it is well-roasted, but it will also help you get more from the roast as the oils become apparent. While not as oily as a standard dark roast bean, this will still have some of the oil covering and coating the surface of each bean.
These beans are heated from around 435-445F, producing a very rich and satisfying taste and texture. Usually heated to the middle of the second crack, this allows for a spicy element to come through from the roasting process’s rich flavours, a common choice for those who like hot, spicier coffee.

Dark Roast Coffee

The full-on dark roast coffee solution is the most common choice of ‘dark’ coffee. These are often the most popular kinds of coffee for a lot of users and tend to give you that rich, shiny, and almost oily surface as you go. Not only is this very rich and dark brown in shade, but it’s sometimes even black in terms of tone.

The beans are heated to around 465-485F, giving you a very deep and rich taste. The second crack is usually enough, but a lot of dark roasts go beyond the standard second crack. The roasting process reduces the richness of the caffeine but leaves you with an almost charcoal-like taste.

Whatever kind of coffee blend you want to try, just remember that the difference between light blends and dark blends is more than just the tone and the shade!

 

Conclusion:

Whether you’re looking for a light or dark coffee blend, it pays to research and know the difference between each type. Light roast coffee tends to be light brown in colouring and has an earthy and acidic taste. Medium roast coffee is usually medium brown in colour with a balanced flavour and less acidity. Dark roast coffee has a rich, shiny surface that sometimes appears black and has a deep charcoal-like flavour. Finally, the caffeine content reduces the darker the beans are roasted, with dark roasts having the least caffeine. Understanding these distinctions allows you to make an educated decision when selecting your favourite type of coffee!

Whether you are looking for mild, dark, or light roast coffee, there is something for everyone at Hot Coffee Today. Check out our selection of blends and find the perfect one for your taste! 

Happy sipping! 🙂

Paul Mason

coffee blogger

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We’ll be more than happy to take a look at any comments, requests or queries that you may have. Thanks for your time, and we hope that your next cup of coffee that you enjoy is the best one that you’ve had, every time! 

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