You must have thought that the taste of your coffee solely depends on the coffee beans you select, but that's not true. One other factor that affects the taste of your coffee is how your coffee beans have been roasted. However, the coffee bean matters a lot, but your coffee gets most of its aroma and flavor from the roasting process. The time of roasting the beans can affect several things, such as acidity, color, and the taste of a coffee. Are you also curious about knowing more about roasted coffee beans? And how can the roasting affect the level of caffeine and flavor? In this post, you'll get all your answers concerning coffee roasts.


What coffee roasting actually is?

In general, coffee roasting converts unroasted green coffee beans into a tasty cup of coffee. It's essential to roast the coffee beans as it brings out the amazing aroma and flavor of coffee lacking in the raw beans. 


The time of this roasting procedure can change everything from acidity to the body of beans, which eventually brings out a different flavor with each kind of roast. Once you understand all types of roasts, it'll be easy to pick your perfect coffee as per your taste preferences. 


There are four kinds of coffee roasts:

  1. Light coffee roasts: This is a roast where coffee beans are roasted for a short time. The general internal temperature for lightly roasted beans is around 356°F – 401°F after the first crackling sound comes. There is no chance they have oils on them as their roast wasn't high enough. The coffee beans from this roast exude a lighter body and well-defined notes of acidity. Their caffeine level is higher than the others because of the minimum amount of roasting. It becomes easy to recognize the original flavor of the beans in light roasting because the flavors from this roast are not spectacular.
  2. Medium coffee roasts: The medium roasted coffee generally reaches the 410°F-428°F of temperature. If you enjoy sweet spots in roasting, then medium-roasted beans might interest you. They have just a little more body and less acidity than light roast. Nothing is incorrect in claiming that the typical American coffee drinker prefers medium roasts. This is because of its ideal balance between flavor, aroma, and acidity. The medium roast coffee's body and acidity lie almost in the middle.
  3. Medium dark coffee roasts: The internal temperature of medium dark roasted coffee beans must reach 437°F – 446°F. It tastes better with more body and less sourness since at the high temperature most of its acidity becomes worthless. This allows for the full appreciation of previously concealed flavors. As the temperature was too high, the oil began to show on the surface of the beans.
  4. Dark coffee roasts: The temperature in roasting coffee beans for dark roast ranges from 464°F to 482°F. You can see the oils on the surface of coffee beans; beans become dark black and glossy because of the high temperature. After this process, the specific flavors of beans wipe out, and the taste of these roasted beans highly depends on the time they've been roasted. Because of the long heating process, the beans get caramelized notes in their flavor, making them sweeter than others. The acidity of beans reduces when it gets darker and is responsible for giving a bold taste with a touch of sourness.


Conclusion: The roasting procedure is crucial to bring out all the distinct and perceptible aromas of coffee beans. In general, roasting coffee beans causes some chemical reactions, which result in a delicious aroma and flavor. High heat causes the coffee beans' starch, sugar, and lipids to caramelize. The beans are laid aside for cooling after the entire roasting process. Roasted coffee beans have better fragrance and aroma than green beans, which exhibit their taste when you drink coffee made from them.

If you are also a fan of roasted coffee beans, then you must visit KNOCK UP COFFEE, as they roast coffee beans with great attention and care. You'll always receive a perfect cup of coffee if you use their roasted coffee beans to make your coffee. 


FAQs

  1. Is it true that coffee beans become bigger after the roasting process?

The cells of coffee beans have water in them, and when we heat them, steam starts to produce because of the high temperature. Because of the exerted pressure, the cellulose, like the material of coffee beans, begins to stretch and becomes soft. This will lead to the expansion of coffee beans. 

  1. Does roasted coffee has more caffeine in it?

It is important to know that the roasting of beans doesn't affect the level of caffeine in coffee. That's why all types of roasted coffee beans have similar caffeine amounts. However, the strong flavor of coffee relies on the volume of coffee you put in one cup.

     3. How long can you store and use roasted coffee beans?

Technically, roasted coffee beans have a year's shelf life, but their flavors and aroma decrease with time once you open the jar. If you use them within a week of being opened, roasted coffee beans can keep most of their freshness, but only if you keep it in a cool, dark, and dry place with little oxygen exposure.