What is a light, medium, or dark roast?

When you first emerge into the world of coffee, you are often asked, “What roast do you want?” and are then left floundering in the hundreds of types and flavors of coffee all with a different roast.

No need to flounder anymore!

Learning the basics behind light, medium, and dark roasts can help you find new coffees to try that you are more likely to enjoy.

Light Roast

A light roast is the closest you can get to “green” beans - which are pulled straight from the plant. It essentially means that the beans have been roasted lightly. 

This creates a flavor that is generally more acidic, but brighter. It often carries a citrusy aroma and flavor with a subtle after-taste. 

The whole beans won’t look very oily because the roasting was too light for the oil — lipids released from the bean during roasting or after sitting for some time after the roasting process — to seep to the surface. 

Medium Roast

For any new coffee lover, this is the roast that I would suggest they start with. It has a stronger and bolder flavor than the light roasts while still staying lighter on the palate than most of the dark roasts. 

These beans are often more balanced between the flavor and acidity, which leads to a delicious cup of coffee. The flavors and aromas are less citrusy and tend to have more floral or smoky notes. Caramel and nutty flavors often emerge well in medium roasts as well.  

Depending on the type of medium roast, the whole beans might have a little bit of oil on the surface that is starting to seep through.

Dark Roast

Dark roasts are just that, dark. As with most things, there are levels within dark roasts that people often enjoy: medium-dark, dark, super or extra dark.

All these names refer to how long the beans were roasted. The darker the roast, the longer it was roasted. And because dark roast beans were roasted longer than light or medium beans, the surface has more visible oil on it, creating a nice sheen when you look at them. 

These roasts can be more bitter and often have deep woody or smokey flavors. They carry a strong aroma and are reminiscent of a campfire coffee. Dark and milk chocolate flavors also shine through well in these roasts because of their pleasant combination with the smoky notes. If you want something rich, dark roast is the way to go. Dark roasts also have the least amount of acidity than other roasts, making it easier to drink for sensitive stomachs.

The best way to learn about the different roasts is to try them. It helps you identify which of the flavors and aromas you prefer and you learn how your stomach will react to the acid in the beans. I have also found that I like different roasts depending on the season. In the Spring and Fall I lean heavily on medium roasts, Winter is for dark roasts, and Summer is for the light citrusy roasts.

But, coffee can be enjoyed and brewed all year long. That is my favorite thing about it.

Cheers,

Mrs. Brew