There’s a lot of pseudoscience around lightly roasted coffee – and it’s very hard, to tell the truth from fiction – but much more pressing is that moment when the barista asks you a question that leaves you confused:
Do you want a light or dark roast?
How different could they really be? You may be pleasantly surprised. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a bartender or a kind of coffee sommelier to have a preference.
What Is A Light Roast Coffee?
Coffee roasting is the process of turning green coffee beans into brown ones. The easiest way to distinguish the different roasts is the color of the berries after frying.
“Light roasted coffee” refers to a style of roasting coffee that produces light brown coffee beans with a matte surface. This style of roasting is used to preserve the unique characteristics of coffee beans. Unlike dark or medium roasted coffee, the “roasted” aroma is subtle and similar to roasted beans. Light roasts have a striking acidity, a soft body, and a kaleidoscopic aroma.
Light Roast Coffee Is Basically Brand New
If roasting for the unique characteristics of a coffee seems like a new idea, that’s because it is!
For most of the history of coffee roasting, beans were dark roasted on primitive roasters. Nothing special, he just needed to taste “coffee.” You know what that means: bitter, thick, and slightly burnt. Flavors strong enough to hide low-quality coffee and keep up with primitive brewing methods.
In essence, most coffee in history has tasted burnt!
But the science and technology of coffee have improved dramatically in the last 50 years and we have discovered a new world of coffee flavors.
- Selective growth of coffee species has led to more hearty plants
- Farmers around the world are able to closely monitor their crops and make adjustments in ways previously unimaginable.
- Computers can help toasters track and control each temperature fluctuation to produce an accurate result.
Light roasts are the product of careful adjustments until we see the potential for attracting coffee – a possibility that is new to the world of coffee. Thus, the light roast becomes a coffee roasted lightly enough for its natural aromas to blossom in the cup.
How Do I Brew Light Roast Coffee?
No secrets here! You can make it the way you would make a normal coffee. As with any coffee you try to make the most of, pay attention to the basics:
- Grinding size: make sure you select the right size for the preparation method.
- Water temperature: because lightly roasted coffee has such a dynamic aroma, it can be prepared at a variety of temperatures for different results.
- Contact time: the length of time you prepare the beans affects the extraction of coffee and changes the flavor. A pot of coffee can take 6 minutes to prepare, while an espresso takes about 25 seconds.
- Freshness: as the coffee ages, it oxidizes. The flavors change considerably after the first few weeks. Use the freshest coffee possible to get the best flavor.
What Do I Pair With Light Roast Coffee?
Light roasts are an exciting pairing with breakfast and afternoon snacks. You can rely on the dynamic aroma of fruit/flora, light body, and bright acidity. It pairs perfectly with:
Creamy
- Buttery croissants
- Cheesy scones
- Avocado toast
- Lunch sandwiches
Tangy
- Thumbprint cookies
- Fruit pies
- Toast and jam
If you want it to be simple, light roasts always taste great, just with a splash of any cream you are in.
Does Light Roast Coffee Have More Caffeine?
Myth: Because lightly roasted coffee beans are less roasted, they retain more caffeine. The truth is that the difference in caffeine between light and dark roast is insignificant.
However, there is something about the density of coffee – and why many people get confused about it.
When we talk about the content of light caffeine compared to dark roasted, we should keep in mind that dark coffees lose their density, and the grains increase in size in the roasting process.
- If we measure coffee by volume (1 tablespoon), you will have more individual light roasted coffee beans than dark roasted coffee beans, because dark roasted beans are literally larger and fewer can fit in the spoon. Thus, there would be more caffeine in the spoon of light roast.
- If we measure by weight (25 grams), the size of the grains does not matter – just the mass. So, although it would seem that you would have more dark beans (because they are bigger), you would actually have the same amount. The caffeine content would be about the same.
The caffeine content in the cup has much more to do with the method of brewing beer than roast. When it comes to brewing methods, espresso is stronger than an ounce for coffee, but you drink less in general. Because espresso often tastes heavy and thick, similar to dark roast, people can associate the “strong aroma” of dark roast with “more caffeine.” Unfortunately, this is just another myth.
