What’s Coffee Roasting? The Magic Behind Your Cup of Coffee

Depending on the roasting type, the taste of your cup of joe will change!

There’s something distinguishable and unique about every cup of coffee. Have you ever wondered what it is? Why you have a favorite coffee brand and why you love its flavor so much? The answer lays in coffee's roasting process. Before they’re roasted, coffee beans are practically flavorless. Roasting initiates a transformation that turns green coffee beans into a rich and fragrant beverage that has enchanted millions of hearts around the world.

It’s all done with heat. Thanks to it,  the chemical changes that take place bring out flavors and aromas that are locked inside every bean. Depending on coffee bean's type, coffee roasters will pick a degree to which it will be roasted. There are many different types of roasting, and they’re chosen based on beans' characteristics. After all, the goal is to enhance their qualities and origins.

It takes many years of experience to know how much heating time is needed for coffee beans to achieve a perfect state. Merely seconds could make a significant difference in the final product, so it’s crucial to develop a sharp instinct. Once they are roasted, they must be quickly cooled to stop the process and get crunchy and flavorful beans that will then be ground, brewed, and served in your cup.

To know which roasting level is the best one depends only on personal preferences and what you like better. To pick your favorite one, you first need to know that roasts are divided in four colors, which are tones that coffee beans will adopt after being roasted: light, medium, medium-dark, and dark. As coffee beans absorb heat in the roasting process, their color becomes darker, and oils appear on their surface.

The process of coffee roasting is full of science and love. Experts will first describe different beans' qualities to know whether they are fruity, floral or sweet. For example, if they are floral, coffee roasters will want to keep that characteristic by choosing a light roast, which means they won’t be heated for too long. This will enhance beans’ acidity and brightness. This way, light roasts will actually have more caffeine than darker ones, because they’re left almost raw.

However, a specific roast will not necessarily make all coffees taste the same. Factors like coffee's age, the way it was processed, grind, and brewing methods will definitely alter the beverage's characteristics at the end. Coffee roasts serve as a guide to know what to expect from each type, as well as to decide which flavors you like the most and would want to preserve. Here’s a brief description of each one:

• Light roasts: they’re light brown, with a light body and no oil on their surface. Lightly roasted beans generally reach an internal temperature of 356°F – 401°F.

• Medium roasts: they have more body than light roasts and have a medium brown color. Medium roasts lack the grainy taste of lighter roasts, exhibiting a more balanced flavor, aroma, and acidity. They reach temperatures between 410°F and 428°F.

• Medium-dark roasts: these will show a little bittersweet aftertaste and will have some oil on their surface. They’re darker and richer, and their flavor and aroma emerge easily. To reach this level coffee beans need to be roasted at temperatures of 437°F or 446°F.

• Dark roasts: they have a shiny and very dark brown color, with oil on their surface. They have a significant bitterness and a smoky taste. Almost all of its original flavors are gone thanks to the roasting process. They’re roasted to an internal temperature of 464°F.

Are you ready to pick your favorite one? Maybe you should try them all first before you decide! At That Coffee Roasters, we have many years practicing the art of coffee roasting. We invest all our passion in making perfect roasts and creating unforgettable experiences for coffee lovers. Try it all by visiting our website and online shop!

Try them and pick a favorite!

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

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