Coffee Roasts - From Light Roast, to Dark Roast and in Between

Quick question: what’s your favorite kind of coffee?

Maybe you don’t have one. Maybe it’s hard to choose. We don’t blame you.

There sure are a heck of a lot of options out there, that’s for sure. From cappuccinos to lattes to caffé mochas, it feels like you could go weeks without drinking the same thing twice. Crazy, isn’t it?

Then you have light, medium, and dark roasted coffee beans. What are they all about?

Does it come down to flavor? How the beans are packaged? Is it all marketing jibber jabber meant to sell more bags?

Let’s look at roasted coffee like you would look at a delicious, juicy steak.

People like to choose how long they want their steak to be cooked. With coffee beans, it comes down to the degree of roasting.

Light roasted coffee beans are like a rare steak. Dark roasted coffee beans are like a well-done steak.

And, just like steaks can have a certain level of “doneness” to change the flavor, the degree of bean roasting also changes how a cup of coffee tastes.

Light roast coffee beans: The milder of the three, light roast coffee is light brown and can sometimes give off a sweet or flowery aroma.

Medium roast coffee beans: Medium roast coffee is brown and has a very balanced flavor. If you’re new to the world of coffee, this is a great option for soothing an anxious palate.

Dark roast coffee beans: Dark brown in color with an oily surface, these beans tend to have a rich, chocolatey flavor that can’t be beat.

It’s worth noting that, no matter how light or dark the beans are, preparation is basically the same. You don’t have to worry about using different tools or recipes for each one.

Not sure which one is right for you? Go forth and experiment!  Have you locked down a favorite?  We would love to hear what it is.