Coffee Roast Types

The differences between the roast levels and how they affect the taste of coffee

The coffee roasting variables affect the taste and quality of coffee. In this article we will explain the three main coffee roast types, their main flavor characteristics and other differences between coffee roast types. This article to help you choose your favorite coffee beans roast type for your perfect cup of homemade coffee. 

Light roast, medium roast and dark roast – what’s the difference? 

So what are the differences between the coffee beans roast types? Depending on the roast level there will be a different balance between sweetness, bitterness and acidity in the coffee. Generally speaking, the darker the roast, the more sweetness and bitterness but less acidity in the coffee you will taste.  

During the roasting process sugars which occur naturally in the coffee beans caramelize when exposed to high temperatures. Darker roasts are more smokey, nutty and chocolatey – the flavors which come from the baking process. Dark roasted coffee beans have fewer natural flavors from the beans such as floral and fruity notes, which are lost during the roasting. 

What are the 3 roast levels of coffee?

The three main types of coffee roasts are light roast, medium roast and dark roast

Each roast has a different aroma, appearance and flavor. Here are short descriptions of the main flavor characteristics of the three types of coffee beans. 

Light roast vs medium roast vs dark roast

Light roast coffee profile

This type of roast is roasted for the shortest amount of time. Light roasted coffee characterizes with more sweetness balanced with acidity. It highlights the natural flavors in the beans and is popular in traditional coffees. The main flavor notes include:

  • acidity
  • bright, fruity flavors
  • floral notes
Breakfast Blend Light Roast
Whole Bean Coffee Blend Light Roast

Medium roast

In medium roast, the flavors are well rounded and there are more roasty notes, which come from the roasting process. The main flavor characteristics include:

  • well rounded body
  • medium acidity
Medium Roast Coffee Beans
Whole Bean Medium Roast Coffee 100% Arabica

Dark roast

Darker roasts, often called French roast, Italian roast or Spanish roast, have a well developed body and are high in bitterness. Thanks to the longer roasting process, there are more sugars developed in the darker types of roasts. This type of roast works well with milky coffee. Dark roasts profiles have the most intense flavors and are:

  • smokey
  • woody, earthy
  • chocolaty

The above are brief descriptions of flavors you can expect in different types of roasting. Now let’s look into a few more details which can help you make the most of your coffee beans and find the ones you enjoy the most. 

Colombian Dark Roast Coffee
Espresso Dark Roast Coffee

 

What type of coffee roast is best?

Well, this is a matter of personal preferences, so there isn’t one answer for everyone. It’s about finding the type of coffee beans you like best. But here are some hints on what beans work best for specific types of brewing. 

Roast type and time of the day 

Lighter roasts are better in the morning and darker roasts are better in the afternoon. Why? In the afternoon you are able to pick up more flavors and aromas from the coffee when your senses are fully awake. In the morning they are a bit muted, so you simply won’t taste as much. 

The caffeine controversy

Which type of roast has the most caffeine?

This is the question you may be asking if you are looking for a good caffeine kick, or the opposite, you enjoy your cuppa, but you don’t want to get over caffeinated. There is a controversy around the caffeine content depending on the roast level and there are contradictory research findings related to this matter. However, it seems that the opinion that the roasting ‘bakes away’ the caffeine is probably a misconception. 

Is there a difference in caffeine levels depending on the roast level?

In fact, there isn’t much difference. The roasting has no effect on the caffeine level in the beans. If there were experiments showing different caffeine levels in different types of roasts, it’s probably due to a different density of the beans in different types of roast, which affected the weight and the amount of coffee used, hence the difference in the caffeine content. 

The level of roast and antioxidants

You’ve probably heard before that coffee is a good source of antioxidants. But did you know that there is a difference in the amount of antioxidants in the coffee depending on the roast type? So which roast has more of them?

Which coffee roast has more antioxidants? 

Lighter roasts contain more polyphenols (antioxidants), so the lighter the roast, the healthier the coffee! The polyphenols break down in high temperatures during the roasting process, so the darker the roast, the greater the loss of polyphenols. 

The type of roast and grinding

Should you change the grind depending on the roast type?

Well, yes you may want to change the coarseness of the grind depending on the roast. Here is why. The level of roast has an influence on the density of the beans and how they break down during the grinding. In general, the darker the roast, the more brittle they become. Lighter roast beans don’t have many fine bits (dust) after grinding. On the other hand, when grinding dark roast beans you will have more dust. This is especially visible when you grind your beans coarse and the differences between the coarse particles and the dust are larger. A solution to this problem may be grinding your beans a bit finer to get more uniformed grind size and more consistent extraction. 

FAQs

Which coffee roast is strongest?

Dark roasted coffees taste the strongest, but in terms of the caffeine content there isn’t much difference between different roasts. 

What roast of coffee is less bitter?

Light roast coffee is less bitter than darker roasts. 

Which coffee roast is the sweetest?

Medium roast is the sweetest. The roasting process caramelizes the sugars in the coffee beans highlighting the sweetness, so medium and darker roasts taste sweeter than light roast. Apart from that, in the lighter roasts the sweetness is countered by higher acidity, so it’s not that much palatable. 

What happens if coffee is under roasted or over roasted?

Under roasted coffee will taste grassy and won’t have any sweetness. In over roasted coffee sugar will burn away and it will taste like carbon. 

Final note

So this is our short guide to types of coffee roasting and what flavors to expect from each type of coffee beans. If you enjoy acidity, floral and fruity notes in your coffee, explore the lighter roast types. If you like bitterness, smokiness, sweet and chocolatey flavors, check out medium and darker roasted beans. 

Are you a fan of dark roasts or light roast? What is your favorite type of oast and why? Share in the comments!

Leave a Comment