7 types of coffee roast (best types of coffee roast you should give a try + more information)
This post will guide you through the types of coffee roasts. Read on to learn some interesting things you should know before you get your next pack of whole beans or ground coffee.
Sometimes I find myself spending inordinate amounts of time just staring at items in the coffee aisle of my local department store. The number of brands can be mesmerizing, and you still have to contend with flavors, grinds, and roasts even within the same brand. Most times, I get a medium-dark roast, as I love my coffee to have body and a rich flavor. You might prefer a different roast if you want a more balanced flavor or more caffeine. If you are wondering how your preferred Roast compares with others or have limited knowledge of how roast levels affect coffee, read on. This review will help you understand coffee roasts better.
Table of Contents
What is the most popular type of coffee roast?
City + Roast is the most popular coffee roast. It is at the top of the medium roast level. The City + Roast offers a flavorful, sophisticated cup with a good balance between origin and Roast flavors. City+ roast coffee beans have a deep, medium-brown hue without any of the coffee’s natural oils coating the surface. The Roast is also referred to as the “American roast.”
What are the main levels of coffee roast?
Coffee roasts are classified into three levels: light, medium, and dark. Light roast beans are heated for the least amount of time. Medium roast beans have a darker brown color and may appear slightly oily. Dark roast beans take the longest to roast. The finished product is shiny, tan, to dark beans.
What is the strongest type of coffee roast?
Light Roast is the strongest type of Roast, as it has more caffeine than both medium and dark roast varieties. Due to the denser beans in a light roast compared to a darker roast, the caffeine content will be slightly higher when measured per spoon. This fact is counter-intuitive to most people, who erroneously assume that the darker the bean, the stronger the coffee.
What is the best temperature to roast coffee beans?
The best temperature range to roast coffee beans is 356°F to 482°F (180°C to 250°C). The roasting process, during which the temperatures are raised gradually, takes 7 to 20 minutes. Roasting below this temperature range will result in grassy-tasting coffee. Roasting above it will burn them.
How we choose the best types of coffee roast
Coffee roasting terms can be confusing. This is because roasting preferences differ from one roaster to the next. To help you decide what coffee roast is best for you, we have come up with this well-researched list of types of coffee roast.
The coffee roasts included here were selected and ranked based on their popularity, acidity, and body. We used these criteria because we found that although the level of caffeine was important, people tended to avoid high-caffeine roasts because of their high acidity but generally gravitated towards shinier coffee beans. The more people like a roast, the higher it ranks on this list. You can trust this list because real customer opinions played a big part in the selection. We have included the bean temperature range for each Roast because coffee roast levels are on a temperature spectrum.
7 types of coffee roast
City + Roast
Also referred to as the “American roast,” the “City +” Roast is produced at the tail end of the first crack. Coffee beans will be between 405°F and 410°F (207°C and 210°C) in temperature. This Roast is at the top of the medium roast level. At this stage, the coffee beans have acquired their deep, medium-brown hue without any of the coffee’s natural oils coating the surface. That results in a flavorful, sophisticated cup of coffee. At the City + Roast level, each coffee’s unique origin will have its most distinct flavor. For instance, Kenyan coffee will have a strong, snappy flavor, while Sumatran will be distinctly rich and earthy with a hint of nuttiness. Without the rich, smokey tastes that dark roasts provide, City + Roast coffee is coffee in its purest form, making it the best Roast on our list.
Full City Roast
With the full city roast, we get into the region known as “full medium.” This occurs when the first crack has ended, but the second crack has not yet started. Coffee beans will be between 410 and 430 °F (210 and 221 °C) in temperature. Full City Roast is identifiable by its dark brown color and some oil coating the bean’s surface. Furthermore, you’ll see a little more smoke emanating from your roaster. This is when the flavors of the many coffee origins and the flavor of the roasting process will be well-balanced, which is why this Roast is so well-liked. We suggest this Roast for many coffees because it offers the best combination of the two qualities. Acidity and body are well balanced for most coffees of this roast type.
Full City + Roast
“Full City+” refers to when a roast is pulled in the initial snaps of the second crack. The coffee bean temperatures are between 425 and 435 °F (218 and 224 °C). The Roast is considered a medium-dark roast, and it’s not quite black enough to be dubbed Vienna. The beans may have a few oil particles on them, and the origin and roasted flavors are also fairly well distributed when roasted well. At this roast level, we begin to see a little bit more body. This fits some people perfectly. If the Roast often has a significant reduction in acidity,
Vienna Roast
Vienna roast is a dark roast. The Roast is in the middle of the second crack, and the bean temperature is between 430 and 440 °F (221 and 227 °C). Vienna roast is distinguished by a somewhat darker shade and oil streaks on the surface of the bean. The extra roasting period causes this oil, which originates from the coffee bean, to surface. At higher roast levels, the oil plays a more significant role in the flavor of brewed coffee; it is this increased oil content that gives dark roasted coffee its distinctive flavor. The Vienna roast brings out nuances that may be lost in the American Roast and slightly enhances the flavor of each coffee from its various origins.
City Roast
The city roast, also known as the New England roast, is at the light roast level. The coffee beans are pulled at the middle of the first crack, with the temperature at around 400 °F (205 °C). Coffee starts to taste and smell like coffee at this stage. C-grade coffee is typically roasted to this degree for cupping purposes because the origin can be tasted clearly, and the Roast flavor is minimal. Raise the Roast of two coffees to this degree and compare them side by side if you truly want to be able to identify the difference between them.
French Roast
The second crack is now nearing its conclusion. Although the cracking will be less severe, it will still go on. The temperature of a coffee bean for a French roast is between 440 and 455 °F (227 and 235 °C). The beans have a distinct sheen of oil all over them and appear more gray-black. French roasting produces a rich, thick flavor; some of the coffee’s more delicate flavors are masked by the smokey, dark roast flavor. By the time you get to a French roast, the coffee will have lost all its origin flavor and simply have a “roast” flavor. This means that any coffee can be roasted to a French roast and taste the same. The coffee will also have very little brightness or acidity.
Italian Roast
The beans are roasted beyond the “second crack,” which is over 455 °F (2235 °C). When this happens, the majority of the oils and tastes emerge, producing a strong, sweet-but-charred flavor. Italian Roast, also known as Spanish Roast, is a method of roasting coffee that produces extremely dark, oily beans. This is frequently used to brew espresso and is typically the darkest Roast available. In reality, most coffee experts would avoid Italian roasts due to their unidentified origin and low quality. There is a vast selection of delectable coffee available. Italian-roasted coffees typically taste burnt and are preferred by coffee chains because of their dark color, which they utilize to prepare espresso. This Roast made it to the list simply because of its wide application.
Informative Section
What is the darkest coffee roast?
The Italian Roast is the darkest Roast used. The beans are roasted so darkly that their natural flavors completely vanish.
What is the lightest coffee roast?
Cinnamon roast is the lightest Roast that can be consumed. Although it may smell like regular coffee, the taste is still too grassy for most people.
What roast level makes coffee more acidic?
Light roast levels tend to be more acidic.
What is the Roast level of decaf coffee?
Decaf coffee is typically a medium roast.