The Roast Spectrum
Exploring the Roast Spectrum: How Different Roasts Impact Flavor
There can be a lot of misconceptions about what the roasting level does to coffee, and how it affects flavor. Just like the region the coffee is grown from, the roasting level impacts your coffee's notes and profiles. Today, we’re diving into the world of coffee roasting to uncover how light, medium, and dark roasts each bring their own unique characteristics to your morning cup of coffee.
Light Roast: Fruity and Bright
If you appreciate nuanced flavors, particularly in the berry and citrus category, a light roast is for you. This roast level is achieved by stopping the roasting process shortly after the first crack, a crucial stage where the beans begin to expand and crack. Because it’s roasted for a shorter amount of time, the beans maintain a higher acidity, which causes the cup of coffee to be brighter, and have a touch of zing or sharpness at the end of each sip.
Light roasts preserve more of the coffee’s original characteristics and notes, offering a wider and more nuanced range of flavors. This roast level is a great choice for those who enjoy a fruity, citrus, or floral flavor profile with a more pronounced acidity or bite to their coffee.
OUR SUGGESTIONS: Brazilian Blend and White Coffee
Medium Roast: A Balancing Act
A medium roast brings out the nuttier and more chocolatey profiles in the beans, but typically doesn’t have nuanced flavors, so don’t expect it to taste like chocolate, or your favorite nut medley. A medium roast has a more rounded flavor profile, so while it may not taste as nuanced, it doesn’t typically have any dominant notes overtaking the coffee. It has a slightly fuller body, making it more indulgent as well, but not overpowering like some dark roasts.
Medium roasts are versatile and tend to please a wide range of palates, making them a popular choice for everyday coffee drinkers. It’s also a great roast for experimenting with different brewing methods, as it holds up well. Whether you’re using a drip coffee maker, pour-over, or French press, a medium roast works well for most brewing methods. If you want to get something that tastes similar at variety of coffee shops, a medium roast is your best bet.
OUR SUGGESTIONS: Girl Boss Blend and Sulawesi Toraja
Dark Roast: Rich and Bold
If you’re after a bold, intense coffee experience, dark roast is your answer. Often called “French roast” or “Espresso roast,” this roast level is achieved by continuing the roasting process past the second crack, where the beans develop an oily surface and a deep, dark brown to almost black color.
Dark roasts are known for their strong, smoky, and flavors with pronounced notes of spice, wine, and chocolate. The extended roasting time diminishes the beans’ original flavor nuances, resulting in a more uniform taste profile, and less of a bite at the end due to its decreased acidity. The body is heavier, which causes the flavor and mouthfeel to linger. While some coffee enthusiasts appreciate the boldness and robust character of dark roasts, others might find them a bit overpowering, and even perhaps dull due the more uniform taste.
OUR SUGGESTIONS: French Roast and Italian Roast
There is No Right Answer
Choosing the “right” roast comes down to personal preference. Whether you’re drawn to the bright, tangy notes of a light roast, the well-rounded balance of a medium roast, or the rich, bold flavors of a dark roast, there’s no wrong answer—only a coffee experience that’s uniquely yours. Those who take their coffee black might enjoy a lighter roast, while those making espresso drinks like a latte might prefer to use the darker roast that cuts through the milk. Experimenting is the best way to find out what you like!
Next time you’re in the shop, don’t hesitate to ask us about the roast profiles we offer, seek recommendations based on your flavor preferences, or ask about our electric roaster!
SHOP OUR COFFEE: Jo2Go