From Light To Dark Roast Coffee ~ What Is the Difference?
You likely know that coffee can be roasted to various degrees, and each roast provides a different experience in your morning cup.
Suppose you want to better understand how and why your coffee tastes the way it does or how to choose coffee that will meet your needs. In that case, this deep dive into the differences between light and dark roast coffee is an excellent place to start!
3 Things You Should Know About Light and Dark Roast Coffee
- Light roast coffee actually contains slightly more caffeine than dark roast—it's true! However, the difference in caffeine content is relatively minor.
- Coffee boasts over 800 unique aromas and flavor compounds, and a light roast brings them to life like no other. There's no better way to fully experience the natural spectrum of coffee flavors than with a light roast!
- Dark roast coffee is often made with lower-quality, inexpensive beans. Over-roasting the beans is a common way to mask unpleasant flavors, creating a uniform burnt and bitter taste. Unfortunately, many companies use this shortcut, blending inferior beans into their roasts.
Thankfully, not all companies take shortcuts, and neither do we! In addition to our light roast blends, we take pride in perfecting our dark roast coffees. This ensures every cup delivers the rich, roasted flavor profile our customers love while highlighting the unique and exciting flavor notes inherent to the coffee.
How Is Our Coffee Roasted?
Roasting coffee is an art and a science. It's where all the magic happens, where green coffee beans are transformed into the aromatic, flavorful coffee you adore. We roast every bean to maximize its potential, and today, we want to take you behind the scenes to share how we do that.
The Journey of Roasting
Roasting coffee is about developing each bean's unique flavors and aromas. We offer a variety of roast profiles, including light, medium, and dark roasts, each with its own flavor profile.
Light roasts retain the bean's original character, medium roasts have a balance of acidity and body, and dark roasts bring out deep, rich flavors.
These profiles need to be tailored to each coffee's origin. Each of our offerings, all 13 of them, including four single origins, one decaf, and eight blends, has its own tale.
For instance, our Galactic Nomad blend features bright, fruity notes that are best expressed with a light roast instead of our medium roast, which has a bold, robust flavor.
Light Roast - Delicate Flavors, Light, and Fruit-Forward
A light roast results in a coffee bean that is lighter in color and has a higher level of acidity and a more delicate flavor profile.
Light roast coffee typically has a slightly fruity or floral taste with notes of citrus or berries and, again, is often preferred by coffee connoisseurs who want to taste the bean's unique characteristics.
Check out our Zodiac-inspired "Light Roast Blends"
Medium Roast - Bold Flavors with Nuance and Complexity
Medium Roast coffees are generally crowd-pleasers. Whether you are a connoisseur or an everyday drinker, a medium roast will surely please.
Medium-roast coffees have a flavor profile that is less delicate than light roasts but not as bold as dark roasts. They often have a slight sweetness and nuttiness. This type of roast is popular among coffee drinkers who want a well-rounded flavor profile that isn't too strong or mild.
Check out our Zodiac-inspired "Medium Roast Blends"
Check out our Zodiac-inspired "Medium Single Origins"
Dark Roast - Bold, Strong Flavors With A Kick!
Dark roast coffee is best for people who want a “good old-fashioned cup of joe.” Its robust flavor profile generally includes chocolate, caramel, or smokiness notes. Dark roast coffee may have a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Check out our Zodiac-inspired "Dark Roast Blends"
The Science and Art of Roasting
Our roasting partner's technology and equipment allow maximum control over temperature, time, and airflow, helping achieve consistent results in every batch. However, the equipment does not make the difference; the skilled roast masters, through their meticulous observations and adjustments, also make the difference.
There are essential stages in the roasting process:
• Loading: The roasting machine is preheated to the proper temperature and loaded with green coffee beans.
• Drying Phase: Provided there is no moisture, the beans will be heated to dry them. This typically continues until they reach roughly 150°C (302°F).
• Yellowing Phase: The beans become yellow and emit a grassy aroma, beginning flavor development.
• Browning Phase: During the browning phase, as the Maillard reaction takes place, the beans darken and develop the complex flavors characteristic of espresso.
• First Crack: The beans crack and expand around 385°F (196°C), releasing a burst of steam and CO2, and entering the first key transition in roasting.
• Growth Stage: Post the first crack, the profile is adjusted for the roast to get the anticipated flavors and attributes.
• Second Crack (if needed): If you prepare darker roasts, a second crack might happen at approximately 224 Celsius (435 Fahrenheit), producing more charred and smoky flavors.
Why Do We Roast In Small Batches?
Roasting
Our coffee is roasted in small batches because this is vital in preserving the best quality. This leads to total control over the process, which is possible through small-batch roasting. This meticulous approach guarantees our rigorous standards for every batch are met. Each batch is carefully monitored by the roastmasters, who have undergone rigorous training and have years of experience.
They taste and adjust each roast until their signature combination of flavors is achieved. Utmost quality means that every cup of our coffee tastes how you expect.
A Commitment to Quality
After roasting, every batch is cupped and tasted to assess its flavor profile.
Based on those tastings, adjustments may be made. Each batch is tasted and refined through an iterative process to ensure the highest standards are consistently met.
Sharing the Experience
Ethereal coffee blends are crafted with care and precision, honoring the unique energy of each zodiac sign. Whether you’re drawn to a light and vibrant roast or a bold, rich French roast, each blend is designed to align with your tastes and the celestial spirit of the stars. Every cup is a tribute to sustainability, quality, and the cosmic inspiration behind every flavor.
Embark on this zodiac-inspired coffee journey and savor each sip's ethereal flavors and uplifting benefits.