The flavour and aroma that you seek from each cup of coffee you sip isn’t only inherited from the beans place of origin; it also comes from the way its roasted. Coffee roasting transforms the raw green bean into the rich, aromatic grounds that we crave daily by unlocking the sugars, oils, and acids that define each cup’s taste.
Coffee roasts come in different levels - light, medium, medium-dark, and dark - with subtle variations within each.
Coffee Roast Levels Explained: From Light to Dark and Everything In Between
Coffee roast levels are based on how long the beans have been roasted and having a clear understanding of this can help you choose the roast that best suits your palate:
Light Roast Coffee
Light roast beans aren’t roasted for long. They’re subjected to heat until the first crack, signalling that beans have expanded and are releasing moisture. Light in colour and dry on the surface, these beans keep most their natural fruity, floral, or tea-like flavour due to the short roasting time.
Common light roast types include:
- Cinnamon Roast: The lightest roast, pale and tangy with high acidity.
- New England Roast: Slightly darker with delicate sweetness and bright, crisp flavours.
Medium Roast Coffee
Medium roasts are roasted for slightly longer but before the second crack. This gives the beans their medium-brown colour and balanced flavour. This level bridges the gap between the brightness of a light roast and the richness of the dark. Medium roasts tend to have body with a smooth, well-rounded taste that appeals to a wide range of drinkers.
Popular medium roast types include:
- American Roast: Balanced and aromatic, often used for “house blend” coffees.
- City Roast: A touch darker with a hint of caramel and mild acidity.
Medium-Dark Roast Coffee
Medium-dark beans endure a longer roast and are removed just before or at the start of the second crack. These full bodied and rich in flavour beans have a slight oil sheen and a deeper brown colour and with chocolatey, nutty, and spicy notes, the acidity of this roast is minimal.
A popular example is the:
- Full City Roast: Strikes a pleasing harmony between smooth sweetness and bold richness.
Dark Roast Coffee
Dark roast beans are roasted through or beyond the second crack to produce a deep brown to almost black bean with an oily surface. Because the roasting time is so long sugars become caramelised and a smoky, bittersweet flavour is created. Acidity is non-existent and its place is a heavy body and a toasty finish.
Common dark roast types include:
- Vienna Roast: Slightly oily with a bittersweet chocolate profile.
- French Roast: Very dark, smoky, and bold with a slight bitterness.
- Italian Roast: The darkest roast, nearly black, with an intense, roasted flavour often used for espresso.
Choose Your Roast Level
Each roast level offers a unique experience and the one you choose depends on your personal preference and even possibly, your mood. Exploring the different levels and what each one represents is the best way to discover which roast suits you best whether it’s the bright vibrancy of a light roast or the bold richness of a dark one. To learn more, visit Inglewood Coffee Roasters today.