One of the most frequent questions that we get is about the difference between dark, medium, and light coffee roasts. We’re here to help you understand what those terms mean so you can find the right level of roast for your preferences. Coffee refers to the process of roasting coffee beans.
When coffee beans are roasted, they lose moisture and change color. You may hear people refer to coffee as being either dark or light roast. These terms refer to the degree to which the beans were roasted. Light coffee is fully roasted and dark coffee is very under-roasted. A medium roast coffee bean would fall somewhere in between.
What is Coffee roasting?
Coffee roasting is an important step in the production process of coffee. During roasting, green coffee beans undergo extensive chemical reactions that transform them into what we know as roasted coffee beans. These chemical processes change the appearance, smell, texture, flavor, and stability of coffee beans during roasting. Some of these transformations occur rapidly, while others take longer. In general, roasting coffee beans results in darker coloration and higher caffeine content.
Many large coffee companies roast in enclosed drums that can often burn their beans. We’ve made a perforated drum roaster that protects the smooth flavor and aroma from each roast level at a perfectly controlled temperature. Before we go into detail about the different roast levels, here are some talking points to help you understand them better:
- Light roasts last an average of two hours, until a single crack is audible, called the “first crack.”
- As beans roast darker, the caffeine content and coffee origins evaporate.
- Darker roasts have less acidity and taste milder, while medium roasts are less acidic and have the lowest amount of caffeine.
- Dark roasts get their strong, smoky flavor from the oil that forms on the bean.
- Light and medium roasts have limited amounts of oil on the surface of their beans.
- As a bean roasts longer, the body becomes thicker and heavier.
- A single crack is then heard, known as the “second crack,” and after that, the beans begin to thin and taste milder.
What is Light Roast?
Light roast coffee is characterized by its light brown color, lack oil on the beans, light body (or viscoity), and light aroma. Beans are allowed to reach temperatures between 320°F and 390°F. When roasting, they typically pop at around 340°F. This popping sound—called the “first crack”—is the signal that they’ve reached a Light Roast level.
A common misconception is the idea that light roasting doesn’t contain as much caffeine as dark roasting does. In reality, the opposite is true! Because light roasters roast for a shorter period of time and at a lower heat, they retain more caffeine than their bolder, darker counterparts. Most coffee experts agree that a light roast is best described as “City Roast” or “Light City Roast”. We offer our customers an array of light roasts including our favorite Bean Mean Up and Ethiopian varieties.
What is Dark Roast?
Dark roast is a type of coffee that contains a lot of caffeine. It is also called “darker roast” or “bitter roast.” Dark roasts can range anywhere from medium brown to nearly black. They contain a high amount of caffeine, which gives them a stimulating effect. Dark roasting caramelizes the oils in the beans, giving them a rich flavor and aroma. Because they are darker, they often take longer to brew. Dark roast comes from countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, and Brazil.
To be considered dark, coffee must roast at least 446 degrees Fahrenheit (225 Celsius). If the beans are roasted too hot, the coffee can taste burnt. Some large-scale roasters sacrifice quality by roasting beans very quickly and then grinding them down. They’re able to produce lots of coffee this way, but they’re not producing high-quality coffee. At Copper Moon Coffee Roasters, we refuse to compromise quality to boost quantity. Every single batch of coffee is carefully roasted.
Dark Roast Vs. Light Roast- What Taste Better?
There is no one right answer to this question because each person has his/her own preference. However, there are certain factors which help us determine whether a particular roast tastes better than another.
First of all, the darker the roast, the stronger the flavour. Roast levels range from dark (full bodied) through medium (medium bodied) to light (light bodied). A higher degree of darkness indicates a stronger roasted flavour, whereas a lower degree of darkness indicates a milder roasted flavour. Secondly, the longer the roast, the stronger and fuller the flavour.
Thirdly, the more caffeine present in the coffee, the stronger the flavour (although it also depends upon how much water was used in the brewing process). Fourthly, the richer the beans, the stronger the flavour; this is especially true for Arabica beans. Finally, the higher the acidity level of the coffee, the stronger and more complex the flavour profile becomes. When tasting coffee, the following questions should be answered:
- Is the aroma pleasant?
- Does the aroma carry over into the body of the coffee?
- Do I detect any bitterness in the aftertaste?
- How does the consistency feel in my mouth?
- How powerful is the aroma?
- How rich is the flavour?
Does Dark Roasted Coffee Have More Caffeine?
An important question that arises when comparing Dark Roast Vs. Light Roast, which has more caffeine? We understand why, if only you had time for one quick cup in the morning, you’d probably want the most caffeine possible. Some people think that dark roast coffee has more caffeine, but they’re wrong!
When measuring out light and dark beans – we find that there are actually more dark roasted beans than light. This is because the beans lose a lot of moisture during the roasting process. And so, as you have more darker beans, the caffeine level is probably a little higher than lighter beans
This is why dark roasted coffee is often associated with a higher caffeine level. But, when it comes down to the actual amount of caffeine in each bean, the difference is really negligible. You could say that light roast coffee has just a tiny bit more caffeine than dark roast coffee.
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