You should know that various factors affect the flavor profile of coffees. The growing region, altitudes, and environment where the coffee is grown play a huge role, including the processing methods- wet or dry.  However, one factor that influences coffee most is the roasting process. Taking processed green coffee beans and turning them into a beautiful roast is a form of art. 

The different techniques will have an impact on your cup of coffee. You know, the difference between top-notch coffee and amazing coffee comes from the quality of the coffee beans and the roasting techniques.  A light roast brings out the more prominent characteristics of coffee grown in some regions like Ethiopia. While the dark roast may have strong flavors because they are roasted for a little more time and exposed to advanced levels of heat. 

Don't get confused, we’ll tell you the roast types. There are basically four types of roast.- light roast, medium roast, medium roast, and dark roast. This one has multiple roast categories within it which may even clarify the roast levels further.  

At Coffee hero, we ensure that coffee beans are properly roasted. We treasure our coffee beans and care about them. With our masterful techniques, we always bring out the best from every coffee bean. Most people have a favorite coffee roast. Do you have one? Before now, darker roasts were popular, but with the coming of specialty coffee, lighter roasts are now more popular. So read on to find out more, you may just get a new favorite roast. 

The coffee beans start first as a cherry plant. They are harvested and processed. That is, the beans are removed from the cherry, then they are dried (or wet washed) before being exported to other parts of the world.  

WHAT DOES COFFEE ROASTING MEAN?

Coffee roasting is defined as the process o As we pointed out before, coffee roasting is a complex heating process that takes some time for people to master. It's a process that some roasters consider to be ‘true science’ and expert roasters (like us) take great pride in our work. 

Coffee roasting brings out the best taste in the coffee beans, revealing some underlying flavors like floral, fruity, and chocolatey. The beans are heated to various temperatures for different lengths of time (we’ll explain this more as you read).  

In other words, roasting brings out all the aromas and flavors hidden inside the green beans. Normally, a green bean does not have the characteristics of the roasted beans- it looks soft and spongy to bite and has a grassy smell. The roasting process causes chemical changes to occur as the beans are brought to very high temperatures. As soon as they reach the peak of perfection, they are cooled immediately to stop the process. The roasted beans now smell like the coffee we all love, they weigh less because all the moisture has been roasted out.

They are now really crunchy to bite and set to be brewed by consumers (coffee lovers like you there, winks).  At Coffee hero, we use the highest quality specialty coffee. We also use specific roasting techniques to bring out the best from coffee beans. The roasting machine usually roasts the green beans between 187 to 282-degree Celsius. They are usually heated for a few minutes or half an hour. 

The temperature determines the roast level from either light to dark. Remember that once they are roasted,  they should be used as quickly as possible. They should also be stored properly because the fresh roast flavors diminish within 1 to 3 weeks. You should know that the beans ought to be stored in a cool, dry, dark place and stored in canisters.  

RELATED: BEST WAY TO STORE COFFEE BEANS

KNOW YOUR COFFEE ROAST 

Lots of roasters have specialized names for their roast asides from the four we mentioned above. These can bring some confusion when you are buying but look at the coffee bags that have roast levels on them. We should break this myth right here, Most customers assume that the strong flavors of dark roasted coffee imply that there is more caffeine. That's wrong. 

The truth is that lighter roast even has a slightly higher concentration (more caffeine) compared to that in the dark roast coffee. Before we go any further, just know that picking the perfect roast is a personal choice that may be influenced by personal preferences or geographic location. You’ll find the main coffee roast levels below. It's better to ask the roaster before you buy if you can't find the roast levels written on the bag. You’ll likely experience a whole lot of difference between the roast.  

LIGHT ROAST

Lightly roasted coffee is more acidic, it has a toasted grain flavor and contains no oils on the body of the beans. As the name implies, they have a lighter brown color than the others have after the roasting process. Normally, light roast coffee shouldn't be heated past 205 degree Celsius. This is because the roaster doesn't want the beans to go beyond the first crack. Or the first size expansion of the beans. 

Lightly roasted coffee doesn't have a shiny appearance (oils) which comes when the beans are roasted for a much longer time. A light roast coffee will offer more origin flavors, that come from weather growing conditions, high elevations, and processing methods. 

MEDIUM ROAST 

This roast is similar to lightly roasted coffee. It has little oil on the outer bean surface. It is also less acidic and is described as sweet by many coffee lovers. Medium roast coffee is mostly heated to the point after the first crack but before the second track. The roast temperatures for this type of coffee are usually between 210 and 220-degree Celsius.  

Also, the medium roast has a sweeter flavor, they are more balanced and less acidic. The caffeine level is less than that of the lightly roasted coffee and higher than dark roast coffee. The medium roast coffee won't have a glossy look because it doesn't produce much oil that gives the beans a shiny appearance. Note that they usually have a fuller body.  

MEDIUM-DARK ROAST

This is the next roast type, it falls somewhere between medium and dark roast. They have more oil than the light and medium roast. They are roasted for about 11-12 minutes. They also come out with a shiny appearance. A dark roast tends to be oily because they go through a more advanced stage of roasting. They have a fuller body than lightly roasted coffee 

DARK ROAST

Like we said, most people believe that dark roast coffee is stronger (in terms of caffeine) but they actually have the lowest caffeine levels. Dark roasted coffee is roasted for a longer time at high temperatures, which causes caffeine levels to decrease. If not roasted properly, it could burn and it won't come out just good for your brew. The beans are normally heated to about 230 degrees, beyond the second crack. This makes the dark roast coffee less acidic and has more oils on the surface.  

Dark roasted coffee usually has stronger flavors. They also have a slightly bitter taste. If you are looking for a stronger coffee flavor, you should go for this. When compared, the darker roast often does not give the distinguishing features from single-origin coffees. What this means is that if you want to brew single-origin coffee, you should opt for a lighter roast to get all its distinguishing flavors.  

WHERE TO GET THE BEST COFFEE?

When searching for the best coffees online, be sure to pick freshly roasted coffees. But from brands that roast every day. You can taste good coffee from Coffee hero, we are experts in the field, using only organic coffee beans and following the specialty coffee rules. Our roasting techniques always create a perfect cup of coffee. We also roast every day, you’ll be sure that it's not stale beans you are getting. In the end, the coffee roast choice all comes down to what you prefer. 

We are telling you all these because the origin, altitude, and growing process are not the only aspects to be aware of or consider. The roasting process is just as important as the other factors when it comes to the flavor of your favorite cup of coffee. 

Order coffees that are roasted to different levels here! You should be able to find your new favorite. Whatever choice you make, just make sure you have fun while brewing it and order for more. 

Happy brewing coffee lover!