Light Roast Arabica Coffee Beans
Light roast arabica coffee beans are the (relatively) new kid on the block. Making delicious light roasts is a delicate balance of roasting artisanally and multi-origin blend.
The process of roasting produces new sugars while removing some of the natural sugars in the coffee bean. This is the reason why light roasts are often more sweet than dark roasts.
Light Roast
A light roast is coffee that has been lightly-roasted to preserve the natural flavors of the beans. The name suggests that these kinds of coffees are generally lighter in body than dark roasts and can be consumed with a variety of methods of brewing, including drip, french press, pour over and espresso. Light roasts are generally characterized by fruitier and brighter flavor notes and can emphasize the characteristics of a coffee‘s source more than darker roasts.
This is particularly relevant when working with single-estate or micro lot coffees. This level of roast can aid in bringing out delicate and nuanced flavors that are often lost during dark roasting. The good thing is that no matter your preference each roast level offers unique and delicious coffees!
Light roasts are also renowned for their crisp acidity and mellow body. This is why these coffees can give you energy and a fresh boost without the heaviness that can be associated with dark roasts. These coffees are great for those who like to start their day with a little more energy and a fresh taste.
When it comes to caffeine, there’s a little truth to the belief that a light roast is more caffeine than a darker roast. However, this is a bit misleading as it depends on the method you use to measure your coffee. If you weigh the coffee, a scoop with a lighter roast will contain more caffeine than a scoop containing a darker roast (because of its larger mass). If you measure by volume, both will be roughly the same amount of caffeine.
The key to a good light roast is in the roasting process. This is why it’s essential to select an experienced roaster, as poorly executed light roasts could have a strong burnt, or bitter taste that can overwhelm the other good qualities of the coffee. We are thrilled to work with small, family-owned roasters who are committed to high-quality coffee.
Our Extra Mile Kenyan is a excellent example of a well-crafted light roast. It has a silky mouthfeel and sweet flavors of stonefruit and baker’s chocolat. In addition, it is sourced from an ethical and sustainable farm that works to fully the principles of regenerative agriculture.
Medium Roast
Often referred to as often referred to as Goldilocks roast medium roast is often referred to as the “just right” coffee that is a blend of light and dark roast. Medium roasts have the same flavor of diner as dark roasts, but have more nuance and balance. They can be found in a variety of aromas and flavors.
Medium roast arabica coffee beans are heated for a lesser amount of time and at lower temperatures than dark roasts. The beans are heated up to 385 degrees and then they begin to pop. (This is called the first crack). Beans that are cooked to this temperature will have a light brown color and won’t have any oil on their surface.
The coffee that is roasted to this degree retains a lot of the original coffee bean’s unique taste and aroma notes. This includes fruity and floral aromas and flavors that are native to the region of origin. Coffee beans that are lightly roasted have more acidity and a brighter color, as well as more mellow body.
Depending on the beans used, medium roasts can be flavored with flavors like caramel, chocolate and hints of spice. It’s important to note that these flavors will be less intense in a medium roast than they would be in a lighter roast because the beans have been roasted longer.
Apart from the richness and intensity of dark roasted coffee medium-dark flavored coffee can be bittersweet and have a strong taste that may make it unpalatable for some palates. Dark roasted coffee is characterized by its deep, oily appearance and features the flavors of bittersweet chocolate, dark caramel and smoke.
If you’re seeking a smooth, balanced cup of coffee that’s less than dark but not as delicate as light roast, our medium roast arabica coffee bean plantation coffee is the ideal choice. Our Happy Place blend is made with single-origin beans from high elevation farms that are Rainforest Alliance certified and practice fully regenerative agriculture. It is a blend that has the flavors of blackberry, cocoa and guava with a soft finish.
All varieties of coffee have the same amount of caffeine regardless of roasting degree. The amount of caffeine found in coffee beans depends on their natural levels as well as the amount of oxygen that the beans absorb when they are roasted.
Dark Roast
Dark roast coffee is a type that is roasted longer than light roast beans. This allows the coffee to develop a more complex flavor profile. This results in a coffee that has a rich, bold taste, and less acidity than a light roast. This type of coffee will suit those who prefer a robust cup to start the day.
Dark roasted coffee has a distinctive brown color and an oily surfaces, which give its distinctive rich and classic diner style taste. It is distinguished by the roasting process. It is essential to select a high-quality arabica coffee beans bean that has been correctly and roasted to ensure the best taste.
When a coffee is dark roasted, it has to be roasted until the beans begin to crack. This indicates that the beans have been well-roasted and ready to be prepared to be brewed. Dark-roasted coffee also requires to be able to produce a balanced flavor and mouthfeel.
The most important thing to do when searching for the best dark roasted coffee is selecting beans of high-quality that have been roast at the right temperature. This will allow for the exotic and unique qualities of the beans, without being ruined by a strong roast taste.
In addition to the roasting stage It is also essential to look at the source of the beans as well as where they were grown in order to select the most desirable dark roasted coffee. Certain regions are better for dark-roasted beans because of their sweetness while others have a rich, complex flavor that can match the intensity.
You should also remember that the darker the roast, the more caffeine you will find in your coffee. This is because the coffee beans are exposed to more heat which will cause more caffeine to be released. The darker the roast, the more intense the bitterness.
Washed Coffee
Washed coffee beans are the product of a process referred to as “wet processing”. After removing the cherries, they are de-pulped in tanks and then fermented to break down the sticky mucilage which covers them. The process is followed by a wash to eliminate the remaining pectin, and then drying. This is a very well-liked method among specialty roasters, and an excellent choice for those looking for crisp, clean and acidic flavor profiles that have moderate amounts of sweetness and body.
Depending on the length of fermentation and how much mucilage is left on seeds, different flavor compounds are created. They may have fruity, earthy, floral or even some nutty notes. This is the reason washed coffees can convey a variety of terroir and distinctive varietal characteristics. Natural processed coffees can produce distinctive flavors due to the fruity pulp surrounding the bean.
After the mucilage is removed and the beans are dried by placing them in large tanks of hot water (as in the wash method), or by spreading the beans on raised beds, patios or terraces, and turning them regularly. This is done until the seeds reach a moisture content between 10 and 12%.
The final step is roasting. As the roasting process occurs, the temperature within the bean will rise and crackling sounds can be heard. This is when the vapors begin to penetrate the outer shell of the bean. This is referred to as the first crack.
After this after which the beans are ready to be consumed. Light roasts taste fresh and fruity, as they haven’t roasted long enough to develop the oils. Medium roasts are more bready and have more of a richer and deeper flavor due to the fact that they’ve been cooked longer, and darker roasts are often very sweet or even smoky depending on how dark they have been roasted.
This creates an array of flavors and smells, so it is your responsibility to choose the one that best fits your tastes! We suggest trying a range of our single-origin light, medium and dark roasts to find out what unique flavors each can provide you.