You may find yourself being on the receiving end of the question “light roast or dark roast?” Yeah sure you may already have a quick answer, but do you really know how light roast actually differs from its counterpart?
Table Of Contents
−- What is light roast coffee?
- Why light roast coffee is better?
- Light roast is relatively new!
- What does light roast coffee taste like?
- How to brew light roast coffee
- What is light roast coffee good with?
- Is light roast coffee the strongest? Caffeine content of light roasts
- Does light roast hold less acidity?
- Hot or iced?
- Light or medium roast?
- Light or dark roast?
If you wanna learn more, keep your eyes glued as we tackle through this light roast coffee guide.
What is light roast coffee?
Coffee roasting is actually the process needed to turn the green coffee beans into brown ones. The resultant color of the beans after roasting is the determinant of what type of roast it is.
If the beans turned out to light brown with a matte surface, it is then classified as light roast coffee. This helps keep the authentic characteristics of the coffee bean. It is far more subtle than medium or dark roasts and has a taste that resembles that of a toasted grain.
Why light roast coffee is better?
Published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, the study shows that light roasts offer more antioxidants than a dark roast coffee bean. More specifically, the lighter roasts contained higher concentrations of chlorogenic acid, which helps to protect against human cell damage and inflammation.
Light roast is relatively new!
Historically, beans were always almost roasted dark. People then didn’t really care as long as their coffee is thick and bitter with a tinge of burnt taste. But as the world evolved, so did the world of caffeine.
- Heartier plants are now available because of selective coffee breeding.
- It is now easier for farmers to monitor their crops.
- Consistency in result is now possible due to computer-assisted temperature monitoring and adjusting.
What does light roast coffee taste like?
Light roast coffee houses fruity and floral yet bold flavors all in one. This is what happens when the coffee bean’s natural flavors are kept via a more toned down roasting process.
Light roast is a sweeter, tangy taste with a strong scent. As for comparing with a dark roast, it is less complex with a richer, more charred taste. That’s why there’s a misconception that dark roasts contain more caffeine. The rich taste leaves the impression that it’s a stronger coffee, but it’s just a taste, not an actuality.
Moreover, light roasts usually have these flavors as well:
Sugary
- Sugarcane
- Vanilla
- Honey
Fruity
- Stone fruit, nectarine, plum)
- Citrus (lime, orange, lemon, grapefruit)
- Berry (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry)
- Savory tomato or papaya
Floral
- Rose
- Jasmine
- Chamomile
Once the coffee reaches your palate, it will exude a light and silky feel. There are some variants that may resemble the taste of teas. Light roasts are all glorious and good, but of course it does not come without a drawback: it’s quite tricky to brew. But don’t worry! Just like anything else, everything can be mastered with time and determination.
How to brew light roast coffee
Thankfully, it is brewed the same way as its darker counterparts. Here are the things you need to consider:
Grind size
Make sure that you’re using the correct grind size.
Water temperature
Depending on how you want your light roast to be, you may brew it at varying temperatures.
Contact time
The duration of the brew directly affects the level of extraction and flavor. 6 minutes is usually enough to brew a pot of light roast coffee. On the other hand, an espresso may take as fast as 25 seconds.
Freshness
The earlier you use your beans, the fresher your coffee will be.
What is light roast coffee good with?
Be it for your breakfast or some afternoon snack, you’re sure to add goodness with a cup of light roast coffee. Here is a quick list that goes incredibly well with light roast coffee:
Creamy snacks
- Lunch sandwiches
- Avocado toast
- Cheesy scones
- Buttery croissants
Tangy
- Fruit pies
- Thumbprint cookies
- Toast and jam
Is light roast coffee the strongest? Caffeine content of light roasts
It’s easy to assume that light roast coffee contains less caffeine because it’s roasted less. Well, think again.
There’s several ways to define the “strength” of coffee, including taste, bitterness and caffeine content. When comparing caffeine content, light roasts are “stronger.” When comparing flavors, darker roasts have a much richer, bolder taste than light roast coffee.
By volume
With 1 tablespoon, there are more individual beans in light roasts than there are in the dark. This is due to the bigger bean size with the latter. In essence, there will be fewer beans in one scoop of dark roast coffee.
By weight
The weight of the beans matter more than the weight. In short, despite the dark roast having bigger baens, both coffee variants will have almost the same amount of caffeine.
To summarize, the caffeine content is more influenced by the brew than the roast.
Does light roast hold less acidity?
We all know that without acid, there’s basically no coffee. The process of producing coffee results in a lot of acid. Therefore, light roasts are also acidic in nature.
It may be deceiving since light roast caffeine can taste sour so people think that it has more acid. But we beg to disagree. Darker roasts are smoother and more caramelly only because they are roasted longer, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have more acid content.
If you’re a light roast lover but are looking for a less acid alternative, you may want to consider opting for cold brews. Cold brew bypasses the chemical reaction that results in a lot of acid.
Hot or iced?
You can totally enjoy your light roast in either of the two preparations!
Light or medium roast?
Obviously, medium roasts have longer roasting duration. Since they are in between light and dark, fruit notes are still present but with a kick of nutty and spicy flavors. Since it’s found in between two extremes, you will have a more rounded and balanced cup of caffeine. Medium roasts are versatile as well but are not as dynamic as light roasts.
Light or dark roast?
Of course, when comparing light to dark roast is roasted the longest with the darkest bean color and oiliest surface among the three roast variants. It’s notes lean towards caramel, maple, nuts, and chocolate. Whether brewed in a french press, espresso-style, or just a regular coffee machine, you’re sure to have some delicious and bolder cups of Joe.
So, if you’re ready to start your light roasted coffee bean journey, check out our article for the best light roasted coffee beans you can find.
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Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
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