Everything about Coffee Roasting

Coffee roasting directly determines the taste and flavor of your cup of Joe, and much of your roasting preferences depend on the flavor profile you are looking for in your Java. Coffee was discovered centuries ago, and it wasn't long before the dried coffee beans began being roasted to release even richer flavors that can be ground into a brew. Learning more about coffee roasts is your opportunity to delve even deeper into your cup of Joe to determine which aspects of Java flavor you like the best!

To start with, there are different roast types to take into consideration. Coffee ranges from light to dark roasted, depending upon how long it is roasted for. A light roast is normally after the first crack of the coffee beans in the roasting process, and a standard light roast is called the American roast. From there, a light medium roast is called a City roast, and a medium roast is called a Full City roast. As the coffee beans are roasted for a longer period of time, they become darker and develop smokier flavors. This is normally after the second crack of the coffee beans. A medium dark roast is called a Vienna roast, and a Dark roast is called an Italian Espresso roast or a French roast. Determining different roast types is your opportunity to choose either a lighter roast of coffee that exhibits more characteristics of the region that it was grown in, or a darker roast of coffee that has smokier and fuller flavors.

Once you brew your delicious coffee roast, there are a few ways to determine the coffee characteristics. These are often used by professional coffee connoisseurs as a way to measure the body and flavor of a cup of Joe. To start out with, you can begin by considering the acidity of your Java. This is the tart taste that it may leave on your tongue, also measured by the dryness that it brings to your palette. This should not be confused in any way with bitterness or sourness from an improper brewing method, but acidity is similar to the dry characteristics found in wine. High acidity can be found within African coffees.

After that, you can take into consideration the body of your Java. This is the heaviness felt on your tongue, as well as the thickness of the coffee. Many fuller bodied coffees lose their body by adding milk, and Indonesian coffees are often known for having a full body. Another consideration is the aroma of your coffee, which is the scent characteristics that it provides. Some of the most fragrant coffees on the market are Colombian and Kona coffees.

Last of all, the flavor of your coffee is what makes it distinct. Does your Java have an earthy or sharp flavor? Does it have undertones of flowers, nuts, or chocolate? There truly is no wrong answer in determining the flavor profile of your cup of Joe, and it is your opportunity to develop your palate as a true coffee connoisseur!