Know Your Roast and Bean Types

 

Not many people know that coffee beans are green before they go through processing. Coffee beans get their different colors after they’re roasted. It’s also how they get flavored.

 

During the process of roasting, the oils within the beans flavor the coffee. At the same time that the process is giving the beans their flavor, it’s also giving it the roast type.

 

The color of the coffee beans will tell you if it’s a light or a dark roast. This signifies the length of time that the beans spent in the roasting process. Depending on where the bean originated while it was being grown, this can also impact the taste of the coffee.

 

There are four basic types of roasts and this is how the different coffees you can buy are classified. There are light roasts, medium ones, one that’s between medium and dark and then there are dark roasts.

 

As you can guess, the light roasted coffee beans did not go through the roasting process for the same length of time that dark roasts did. The lighter the roast of the coffee, the less bitterness the coffee flavor has.

 

The length of time the beans spent in roasting is what you see on the labels on the outside of the bag or can of coffee that you purchase - the light, the medium, the medium dark and the dark. If you don’t like strong, bitter coffee, you want to go with a lighter roast.

 

In a light roast, because the process isn’t as long, the oils are not freed to the outer part of the bean. This is why a light roast doesn’t taste as bitter when you drink it.

 

With a medium roast, you’ll get a darker color and more of a strong taste. You still won’t have as much of the bitterness - because there’s not a lot of the oil to give it that bitter taste.

 

With a medium dark roast, the first thing that will catch your attention will be the color of the beans. This color will be noticeably darker than the light roast and slightly darker than the medium one.

 

If you hold a single, unground bean up to the light, you’ll be able to see the oil on the bean. When this type of roast is made, there’s a distinct bitterness to the flavor.

 

Coffee beans that are dark roasted no longer look brown. Because these were in the roasting process the longest, they have a black color. The oil on the bean is more noticeable right away. The taste of this coffee is very bitter. If you’ve ever had an espresso, it was made using these darker, bitter beans.

 

The type of coffee bean that you prefer to drink is going to depend on the type of roast it is. If you don’t like bitter coffee, you’re not going to be a fan of the darker roasts. If you like your coffee smoother, with not much aftertaste, you need to choose the light roast.

 

If you like the taste of coffee and you’re not looking for something that’s going to pack a strong taste kick, then you want to take the medium or medium dark roasted beans.

 

Because beans can vary even within their classifications, what one medium coffee tastes like doesn’t mean that another medium will taste exactly like it. So you may have to try several different varieties of coffee within one grouping to figure out what pleases your taste buds the most.

 

Now if you like to drink coffee that has a powerful taste and gives you that bitter flavor, then you want to go with the darkest roast. Don’t be surprised by the appearance if you buy them whole.

 

Sometimes, these beans can even look as if they were burned. That’s what all that oil release in the bean and the time in the roasting process will do to this roast of bean.

 

Choosing the roast that you like is also going to depend on what else you plan to put in the cup with your coffee. If you plan to drink your coffee straight with no additives and you know you don’t like bitter coffee, stick with the lightest roast that you can find.

 

But if you somewhat like strong, bitter coffee and plan to put some flavored elements in the cup, it can take the edge of the bitterness off and you might find a blend that you like.

 

The beans you buy can be chosen from all over the world. Different countries and regions will deliver coffee that has a unique taste. Even how the bean is process initially (picked by hand versus machine) can make a difference.

 

When you’re starting to shop smarter for your coffee beans, you’ll notice that you sometimes see single origin and sometimes blend. This blend is when the beans are brought together from more than one source.

 

This can be wonderful, because the flavors are paired together to create a rich fullness in flavor. It can also be great to get one, solid and pure taste of a bean from just one region, too.

 

Coffee beans are always a choice that depends on individual tastes, but you should know that whatever means you use to grind or make that coffee can affect the taste of the roast as well.

 

If you’re someone that likes to brew a cup of coffee and not give it a lot of thought, then you may not be looking for a machine that’s going to turn cartwheels when it makes coffee.

 

You may want something simple where you can press a button and the coffee gets made. But what happens sometimes is that people end up buying a coffeemaker or grinder that’s fairly simple and then they develop a better palate for their coffee flavors and wish they would have purchased one instead with more bells and whistles.

 

So keep in mind that even the top of the line coffeemakers that have a lot of different features and can make elaborate coffee can also make you a simple cup of coffee. That way, when you want more options, and better flavor, you have it.

 

Regardless of what roast type or flavor you want, make sure you measure out your coffee before you put it into the machine. Don’t eyeball it. You need precise measurements to brew the best cups of coffee, consistently.

So we'll be talking about the best way to brew your coffee!