Every type of coffee has a different flavor which comes from different types of roasts. To find which coffee roast taste better than the rest, let’s take a deeper dive into roasting coffee beans.
So which coffee roast taste better? The answer to that question simply depends on your taste buds. If you fancy a sweet and tangy taste, then light roast is the way to go. If you want your coffee to be richer and less complex in taste, then dark roast will be the right pic for you. For those who want the best of both worlds, the medium roast will satisfy your taste buds the best. The taste varies from one roast level to another. None are better than the other, only unique in their own ways.
The taste of coffee also varies depending on the beans used. Different coffee beans give out a different taste and smell, for example – Sumatran coffee beans have an earthy and mossy taste, which some of you may like or not. What type of tastes you prefer will determine your liking towards certain types of coffee more than the rest.
Table of Contents
Types Of Coffee Roast
- Light Roast
- Medium Roast
- Dark Roast
- Double Roast
- Espresso Roast
Table To Know The Characteristics And Flavors Of The Roast
| Roast | Flavor | Characteristic |
| Light Roast | has more of a varied flavor | coffee results in more acidity and less body |
| Medium Roast | is compressed with more pronounced bitterness. | has a fuller body, and the acidity is typically lower |
| Dark Roast | has spicy notes and a thicker, more oily mouthfeel | beans show an oily sheen |
| Double Roast | is noticeably smoky or even charred, with little evidence of the beans’ original flavor | has a hint of sweetness, but less body than a medium-dark or dark roast |
| Espresso Roast | is rich & caramelly along with spicy notes and a nutty chocolatey flavor | coffee results in medium acidity and a full body |
Things To Know Before Choosing Which Coffee Roast Taste Better
Difference
Caffeine
The rich taste leaves the impression of a much stronger coffee, but it is just taste and not the actuality. A stronger taste does not bring more caffeine with it. If you look at the caffeine content it’s relatively the same, the main difference here is in the volume of coffee used. Generally, light roast beans are larger because they expand in the roasting process compared to dark roast beans which give a smaller bean size due to the long roasting process which is required in creating a dark roast.
All the misconceptions begin with the size of the bean, if you compare a scoop of light roast bean and dark roast bean, there is essentially more caffeine content in a light roast scoop. Whereas if the scoop is weighed, the dark roast will have more caffeine because it has less mass. If explained in simple words, both coffee roasts will have the same caffeine percentage, if you measure the same amount of freshly roasted coffee beans in each scoop.
Taste
When it comes to taste, light and dark roast coffee both have a huge taste difference. Where light roast coffee has a sweeter, tangy taste with a stronger scent, Dark roast coffee has a less complex but more rich character to its taste.
Looks
Another big factor looks. Although the color may be similar, the dark coffee color comes from darker beans. The color change will bring a huge difference in the coffee you brew.
Density
The density of your coffee is another difference. When you brew a darker roast, the coffee is thicker due to the oil contained in the beans. This comes from a longer roasting process that dark coffee beans go through and thus the beans produce an oil that is left making a shiny layer on the freshly brewed coffee beans when they are finished. This oil adds thickness to the coffee.
Taste Difference
Generally, the darker the roast the more coffees taste similar. The reason behind this is simple, the darker you roast your coffee beans the more dominant is the burnt flavor. It’s not a bad thing always, it’s more like giving a more often desirable characteristic that adds another dimension of flavor to your coffee. It also needs a skilled coffee roaster to control.
Light Roast
Light roast coffee is known for its ability to bring out the authentic characteristics of the particular coffee beans which make it easier to distinguish between two different types of coffee. For example; you’ll be able to taste the difference between a Colombian, which has a full body and some floral notes; a Kenyan, which has a bright wine acidity; and a Sumatran, which has earthy and mossy taste.
But on that note, you should also know that not all coffee beans taste good light roasted. Many times the coffee may have unpleasant tastes like peanuts or some vegetables etc. Light roast coffee may be imbalanced, meaning it not having equal amounts of body, acidity, and fruitiness. Some people find light roast coffee to be a little too out of their comfort zone and a little too challenging.
Medium Roast
Medium roasted coffee is a middle ground where the coffee beans have started getting caramelized but don’t have the dark burnt chocolate flavor yet. At this stage, the beans bring out a balance between the citrusy, fruity, berry-like, and acidity flavors. This is great for those who prefer a balanced-tasting coffee with tons of flavor.
Dark Roast
Dark roasted coffee is when the coffee beans enter the realm of dark, rich, chocolatey, and bold flavors. If the beans are inexpensive or the person handling them is unskilled the roast may turn out a charred or burnt flavor; which some people end up liking. Dark roast usually has a bold chocolatey flavor with a few notes of floral, berry-like, fruity, and citrus flavors.
But it may happen so as well that the strength and boldness of the full caramelization cover up the other flavors. Sumatrans use this industry secret where they have beans that they are trying to use up, they use the French Roast, in which all the roasts taste the same.
Know Your Roasts
There isn’t a lot of standardization when it comes to naming the roasts. Most of the roasters like to custom name their roasts which can ultimately cause confusion for the buyers. Roasts generally fall under four main categories; which are light, medium, medium-dark, and dark. There is the common misconception of the dark roasts having a higher level of caffeine whereas, in reality, the lightly roasted coffee has more caffeine than the rest.
Everyone has their own preference when it comes to picking out the perfect roast for oneself. The choice may be biased depending on national preference or geographic location. It is always wise to ask around, do your research, and make use of the trial and error methods to find your one true match.
Light Roasts
Light roast coffee beans result in a light brown colored coffee with some natural flavors. A light roast means the accessibility to the sweet and tart flavors is easier. It won’t have any oil on the surface because for the oils to break through the beans, they require more roasting time. To acquire some chocolatey notes in your brew, you will need to brew the coffee for a longer period of time. Some examples of light roast coffee are; light city, half city, and cinnamon.
Medium Roasts
Medium roasted coffee is often known as the American roast for its preference in the United States is higher than the rest of the world. Every type of coffee bean has its own set of unique flavors and the medium roast is used to preserve those flavors. It has a stronger flavor, non-oily surface, and is brown in color. If you opt for a particular type of coffee for its specific traits, you’ll be able to taste it best with a medium roast. Some examples of medium roast coffees are; American breakfast, medium-dark roasts, and full city.
Medium-Dark Roast
Medium-dark roasted coffee beans are dark brown in color. They have some amount of oil on the surface. This type of coffee has a rich and slightly bittersweet taste to it. If you are someone who likes their coffee a little bittersweet with some deep original flavors, then this is the right type of coffee for you. One example of medium-dark roasted coffee is Full City
Dark Roasts
Dark roasted coffee has shiny black coffee beans with an oily surface. The darker the roast the lesser the acidity in the coffee. Dark roast usually has a distinct bitter taste with chocolatey notes. Make sure you check your coffee beans before buying them because dark roast and charred are two variants and their names are often used in place of the other.
The dark roast may have an overpowering flavor and aftertaste which may mask the beans’ original sweetness and flavors. But if you like your coffee less on the sweet side and more on the bittersweet side, then this is the roast for you. Some examples of the dark roast are continental, espresso, and French.
Determine Your Preferred Coffee Flavor Profile
Did you know that there are numerous types of coffee beans and that Arabica is the most common of them all, accounting for 60% to 70% of the global coffee production? Most of the time while distinguishing the types of coffee we only think of the roasting profiles. Although it is a way to differentiate between coffees, it tells only one part of the story.
Mild
Coffee beans that have a mild flavor don’t have a sharp, strong, or pungent. Lightly roasted coffee beans usually have a milder flavor.
Bold
Coffee beans which are of a bold body have a prominent and strong flavor. Coffee beans that are medium to dark roasted usually have a bolder flavor.
Extra Bold
Coffee beans that have an extra bold body have a definite and extremely strong flavor. Coffee beans which are dark roast usually have an extra bold flavor
Guide To Perfect Coffee Roast
The heating process of roasting turns the green-colored coffee beans into the aromatic, beautiful dark brown colored beans that we love. Roasting is done to draw out all the hidden flavors and fragrances that are hidden inside the coffee beans. Although while storing the beans, they need to be stored as the original green beans.
This prevents the loss of any quality, flavor, or aroma. Even though the green beans are also coffee beans, they do not share any of the properties of the roasted beans. The green beans taste like grass and are spongy and soft to the bite. The chemical reaction that takes place when the green beans are met with high temperatures, while they are being roasted, is responsible for the enhanced flavor and fragrances.
As soon as the beans are at that utmost level of perfection, they are quickly cooled off to stop the roasting process. Roasted beans lose their moisture which results in them weighing lighter than what they started off with. This is when they smell like that delicious and fragrant coffee that we all know and love. They are now crunchy to the bite and can be ground up to be brewed straight into our cups. If kept for a long time they will start to lose their roasted flavors, which calls for them to be used up quickly.
Roasting green coffee beans and transforming them into the robust coffee that we love is not only an art, but also is a precise science. It takes a great set of skills and knowledge combined with years of experience to become an expert, to be able to judge the beans within fractions of a second and decide upon it. One can be a couple of seconds off and a batch of deliciously roasted coffee beans can be ruined.
Coffee Bean Types and their Characteristics
Primarily there are four types of coffee beans we will talk about here:
- Arabica
- Robusta
- Liberica
- Excelsa
Let’s learn more about what makes these types of coffee different.
Arabica
Arabica is the most prevalent and heavily marketed coffee type, mostly because it tends to be less acidic and it has a more delicate and sweeter flavor. Arabica beans are generally farmed in areas with high elevation above sea level, particularly areas with plentiful rain. Brazil, which is known for its lush rainforest is also the world’s biggest exporter of Arabica beans. Coffee plants are themselves very delicate plants requiring a fair amount of pruning with a lot of attention to environmental factors.
The Arabica coffee species are very prone to disease so farming in large quantities is quite a challenge. This is one of the reasons for the high pricing of the bean in the global market, this is not something to worry about for most coffee drinkers as they are happy to pay for the different, sweeter, softer taste.
One important point to note about this popular but sensitive bean is that it diminishes the taste if served cold or blended with add-ons like milk or creamer. While that is the case, it won’t be noticeable if you add some flavors to the drink anyway.
Robusta
When it’s about global production, Robusta coffee beans come in second place and are most popular in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. As the name says, these coffee beans are known for their strong and harsh flavor profile. They have extremely high caffeine, which makes the plant more resilient than the Arabica species. That’s because caffeine acts as a natural insect repellent which eliminates a major threat to the plant. Robusta Coffee which comes from caniphora species is also very tolerant of its environment, resulting in a plant that can be grown in any climate or altitude.
It has a different taste which is close to burnt or rubbery, which makes Robusta a rare preferable choice. However, because of the ease in growing Robusta beans, which are easier to grow and harvest than Arabica beans, farmers tend to reap higher when they sell Robusta. Robusta is generally used as a filler to dark roast and might be used in discount lines like instant coffee. Generally, by using 3 parts Arabica to 1 part Robusta, a roaster might save up to 20% on the raw bean cost. However, it does affect the quality of the coffee.
But there are some instances showing high-quality robusta coffee making its way to the grocery store shelves. These are generally single-origin coffees made from craft, small-batch roasters. The very best of Robusta coffee beans will have a hint of rum and chocolate within their flavor profile, but they are not always readily available.
If at the end of the day you are just looking for a caffeine dose, you would do just right with this one by adding some creamer, milk, or some flavor or add-ons.
Liberica
This is the rarest treat, Liberica coffee beans are grown in a very specific climate with a far scarce production for farmers to scale a global marketplace. Liberica coffee beans are considered a pleasant surprise of flavors, They are considered more like a fruity and flowery taste with a hint of some woody notes.
Excelsa
The final type of coffee bean is Excelsa. Excelsa is technically a member of the Liberica family, but the species is incredibly distinct. Like we read about Liberica coffee above, Excelsa is grown primarily in Southeast Asia and is representing a small fraction of the world’s coffee production. Excelsa has a tart, fruitier flavor and is also known for showing attributes of both dark and light roast coffees; it creates a unique profile that is frequently sought out by coffee enthusiasts.
Learn More About Your Freshly Roast Beans
Which Roast Has The Most Caffeine
It’s a common misconception that dark roast coffee has more caffeine and is strong, for the most part, it’s just false. In reality, 100g of light roast coffee and 100g of dark roast coffee have almost the same amount of caffeine. If you measure by weight, you will get about the same amount of caffeine every time regardless of the roast.
This caffeine myth does have an understandable origin.
The density of light roast beans is much more than dark roast beans, so each bean individually has slightly more caffeine. Dark roast beans are less dense and so each bean has slightly less caffeine.
So measuring by volume doesn’t account for the density of the beans like measuring by mass does and this is how the myth was born.
It’s all in the measurements
Basically, one scoop of dark roast beans may have 65 mg of caffeine, while light roast beans may give 70 mg. As we can see 3 scoops of light roast does have slightly more caffeine than 3 scoops of dark roast does. It doesn’t have to do anything with the level of roast.
Coffee Buying Guide
Before all this, you should know that drinking coffee is all about finding what you enjoy and like and sticking to it. Let’s start with Arabica and Robusta which are the most affordable and prevailing coffee options you will come across on a daily basis. Think about how you like your coffee, Hot-Cold-Black-with/without creamer?
If you are more of a purist who likes their coffee hot fresh and black then going for light Arabica bean-like, Ethiopian, Yirgacheffe would be an ideal choice. If you are more into having your coffee with some additional flavors, add-ins, or you like your coffee over ice then going for an Espresso shot or some dark bean coffee would be an ideal choice.
The main thing here is to find what you like and what goes with your flavor choice, until then keep trying different flavors and keep enjoying the process.
Disclaimer: The above-mentioned methods may affect different people in unique ways. Your results may vary from others and that is completely okay. You may get different side effects too and hence it’s advisable to talk to your nutritionist beforehand. Black Coffee is not meant to be a replacement for your food. If you have disordered eating or any other problems related to eating, we recommend you to see a professional.
