How To Tell If You're Prepared For Light Roast Arabica Coffee Beans
Light Roast Arabica Coffee Beans
Light roast arabica beans are (relatively speaking) the new kid in town. Light roasts strike an artful balance between artisan roasting, multi-origin blends and blending.
The process of roasting eliminates some of the natural sugars found in the coffee bean, it also produces new sugars. This is why a lighter roast may have more sweetness than its dark roast counterpart.
Light Roast
A light roast is a coffee that has been lightly roasted to retain the natural flavor of the beans. These coffees, as their name suggests, are lighter in body and can be enjoyed with different brewing methods, such as drip, espresso french presses, drip pour overs. Light roasts have more vibrant and fruitier flavors, and can bring out the unique characteristics of a coffee better than darker roasts.
This is particularly applicable to single estate or micro-lot coffees. This roasting level can help bring out subtle and complex flavors that are often lost during dark roasting. The good thing is that no matter your preference every roast level has amazing and unique coffees!
Light roasts also have a refreshing acidity and a soft flavor. They are able to give you a boost of energy, without the heavy sensation that is often associated with dark roasts. This is why they are an excellent choice for those who wish to start their day with a bit of extra energy and a fresh taste.
When it comes to caffeine, there is a bit of truth to the popular belief that a light roast has more caffeine than a darker roast. However this could be misleading as it depends on the method you use to weigh your coffee. If you weigh the coffee, a scoop with lighter roasts will have more caffeine than one containing a darker roast (because of its larger mass). If you measure by volume, both will have roughly the same amount of caffeine.
The key to a successful light roast lies in the roasting process. This is why it is important to work with a roaster you trust, since poorly executed light roasts may have a strong burnt, or bitter flavor that can overpower the other good qualities of the coffee. This is the reason we love to work with small and family run roasters who value the highest quality.
Extra Mile Kenyan is an excellent example of a light roast that has been expertly crafted. It has sweet notes of stonefruit and baker's chocolat with a smooth and silky mouthfeel. It is also made from a sustainable, ethical farm that is committed to sustainable farming.
Medium Roast
Often referred to as the Goldilocks roast medium roast is the "just right" coffee that falls between light and dark roast. Medium roasts share the same diner-style flavor as dark roasts, but they have more nuance and balance. They offer a variety of flavors and aromas.
Medium roast arabica coffee beans are heated for a lesser period of time and at less temperature than dark roasts. The beans reach 385 degrees and begin to pop (this is known as the first crack). Beans that are roasted to this temperature will be light brown in color and will not have any oil on their surface.
This roasting process preserves the unique aroma and taste notes of the coffee bean in its original form. This includes floral and fruity aromas and flavors that are indigenous to the region of origin. Lightly roast beans also have a brighter acidity and a smooth body.
Depending on the beans you use, medium roasts can be flavored with flavors like caramel, chocolate and hints of spice. But, it's important to remember that these flavors are more muted when compared to a light roast because the beans have been cooked for a longer period of time.
Aside from the boldness and richness of dark roasted coffee medium-dark flavored coffee may be bittersweet and have a strong taste that can make it unpalatable for some palates. Dark roast coffee has a dark oily appearance and flavoured with bittersweet chocolate smoke and dark carmel.
If you're looking for a smooth, balanced cup of coffee, that is lighter than dark roast, but isn't as delicate as light roast, then our medium roast arabica is the right option. Our Happy Place blend is created using single-origin beans from farms at high elevations that are Rainforest Alliance Certified and practice fully regenerative farming. It is a blend of blackberry, cocoa, and guava with a soft finish.
Whatever the roasting degree, all varieties of coffee have the same amount of caffeine. This is because the caffeine content of beans is determined by their natural levels as well as the amount of oxygen that the beans absorb as they are roast.
Dark Roast
Dark roast coffee is one that has been roasted for longer than light roast beans. This allows the coffee to develop a more complex flavor profile. This results in a coffee that has an intense, strong flavor, and less acidity as compared to a light-roasted bean. This kind of coffee will suit those who prefer a strong cup to begin their day.
Dark roasted coffee is distinguished by its distinctive brown color and an oily surfaces, which give it its signature rich and classic diner taste. The roasting process for this type of coffee is what makes it so distinct, and it is essential to select a bean that has been roasted correctly in order to get the full flavor.
It is crucial to roast a dark-roasted coffee until the beans begin cracking. This is the first indication that the beans have been properly roasted and that they are ready to be made. Dark-roasted coffee should have a silky mouthfeel, and a balance of bitter and sweet flavors.
To find the finest dark-roasted coffee, you must focus on beans of high-quality that have been roasted at just the right temperature. This will allow the unique and exotic characteristics of the beans to shine through without being masked by an over-roasted flavor.
To find direct trade arabica coffee beans -roasted coffee, you need to consider the source of the beans as well as the region where they were cultivated. Certain regions are more for dark-roasted beans due to their sweetness while others have a deep, complex flavor that can match the intensity.
When choosing a dark roast be sure to keep in mind that the higher the roast level the more caffeine will be present in your coffee. This is because roasted coffee beans are exposed to higher temperatures which causes them to release more caffeine. Additionally, the darker a roast is more intense the bitterness will be.
Washed Coffee
Washed coffee beans are the result of a process called "wet processing". After removing the cherries, they are then de-pulped in tanks and then fermented to melt any sticky mucilage that covers them. This is followed by a wash to eliminate the remaining pectin, and drying. This method is very well-liked among specialty roasters. It's a great option for anyone who wants a clean crisp, acidic, and crisp flavor profile with moderate sweetness and body.
Depending on the length of fermentation and the amount mucilage is left on the seeds, different flavors are created. These may have earthy, floral, fruity or the nutty note. This allows washed-coffees to express a great deal of terroir, and the typicity of a varietal. Natural processed coffees can create distinct flavors due to the fruity pulp that surrounds the bean.
After the mucilage has been removed, the beans are dried by the soaking process in large tanks of water (as in the washed method) or laid out on raised beds or patios in the sun and rotated regularly. This is done until seeds have an moisture content of between 10-12%.
Roasting is the final step. When the roasting process is complete the temperature inside the bean will rise and a cracking sound can be heard, which is the moment when vapors begin to crack through the outer wall of the bean. This is known as the first crack.
Once this has happened, the roasted beans can be enjoyed. Light roasts will taste very fresh and fruity since they haven't been cooked long enough for the oils to develop. Medium roasts are more bready and have a more rich and deeper flavor, since they have been roasted for a longer period of time. Darker roasts can have a chocolaty or smoky flavor, depending on the degree of roasting.
This creates a variety of aromas and flavors. It is your choice to select the coffee that best suits your preferences! We recommend trying a variety of our single-origin light, medium and dark roasts to discover what the unique flavors of each will bring to you.