Types of Roasts

The Goldilocks of all roasts, medium roasts are known for their balanced flavors. Fairly aromatic, this roast lets you experience both the flavor of the roasting process, and the complexity of the coffee bean’s natural notes. It lacks the oily sheen of darker roasts and the grainy taste of light roasts. It is also less acidic than a light bean and contains more caffeine than the dark ones. Roasted until just before caramelisation, this saporous coffee has a light brown colour and appeals to a wide range of palates.

Dark roast coffee boasts a full-bodied, single-note flavour and is the most richly aromatic type of roast. Much of this bold-tasting coffee’s flavour comes from the roasting process and is usually described as smoky with a hint of bitterness. As the name suggests the beans have a distinctive dark chocolate or even black colouring due to caramelisation of the natural sugars in the beans. To create a dark roast, coffee beans are roasted for longer than a light or medium roast. The high temperature achieved during the roast removes much of the moisture and caffeine that was present in the beans. The beans develop a coat of oil on the surface that gives this roast its characteristic sheen. Dark roasts are favoured in Europe and are often used for creating espresso blends as they contain less caffeine.