Coffee Beans - Know Your Roast
Roasting coffee is an art form that varies from very light roasts to very dark roasts. Green coffee beans do not have any of the typical coffee flavors we are used to. To achieve this great flavor, green coffee beans must be roasted. During the roasting process, the high heat causes the carbohydrates and fats in coffee beans to break down and change into flavorful oils.
Roasting coffee beans is only part of the process for a coffee lover to get a great batch, the coffee bean blend is important as well. There are a few general levels of roasting that coffee lovers are accustomed to:
Light roasts area known as New England roasts or cinnamon roasts. Coffee beans are roasted for approximately seven minutes to achieve this level of roasting. The green coffee beans will grow to twice their normal size and turn a light brown color. These beans have a somewhat sour taste and a light body and are commonly found from large commercial coffee roasters.
Medium coffee roasts are known as breakfast roast, American roast, or just regular roast. Coffee beans are roasted for approximately nine to eleven minutes to achieve this level of roasting. These styles of coffee roasts are still easy to find in stores but not as plentiful as the lighter roasts. Medium roast coffee has a sweeter flavor then light roast and has a deeper more pleasing smell.
Dark coffee roasts are commonly thought of as French roast. Coffee beans are roasted for approximately thirteen minutes to achieve this level of roasting. You will here a hissing sound as the oils under the surface of the bean start to come forth. Dark roast coffee beans supply a deep flavor that is rather spicy and somewhat sweet.
The very darkest coffee bean roasts are called espresso roasts or Italian roasts. Coffee beans are roasted for approximately fourteen to fifteen minutes to achieve this level of roasting. Roasting the coffee beans any longer than this will degrade the flavor and result in a burnt taste. When the beans are roasted past the dark roast point, the oil that is hissing will start smoldering. This is caused by the natural sugar within the coffee bean caramelizing. These coffee bean roasts will have a smoky and full-bodied flavor almost like a stout beer.