Roast Profiles : A Quick Guide
We understand that it can feel very overwhelming when you want to grab yourself a bag of coffee but instead come across many different types of coffee with terms like Light roast, Medium or Dark roast. Fear not, we’re here to help your coffee shopping experience be less overwhelming.
Roast profile plays a huge part in determining the intricate flavors of your daily cuppa. From the delicate notes of a Light Roast to the bold richness of a Dark Roast, each profile brings forth a distinct character that caters to a diverse range of palates.
Without going into the complicated science of coffee roasting, green coffee beans are heated at various temperatures and duration to elevate its aroma and flavor, breaking down its complex carbohydrate and caramelizing it. Different roasting processes(mainly focusing on the temperature and duration) will affect the coffee’s body, mouthfeel, acidity, sweetness and its flavor in general.
To simplify it, the longer the coffee beans stay in the roaster, the darker the roast will be.
So we’re here to help you understand what these means and the difference between each roast profile. There are many different roast profiles and various terms to define them, but here, let’s dive into the 3 most common roast profiles together.
Light roast coffee is light brown in appearance, and is roasted at a lower temperature and for a shorter duration (compared to the other roast profiles). This is usually done to preserve their innate complexities and flavor. This also means that the resulting cup of coffee will tend to be higher in acidity, coupled with floral and fruity notes, creating a wonderful crisp and vibrant taste.
To get the most out of light roast coffee, we recommend brewing it via the Pour-Over method (Eg. V60, Switch or Chemex). This method allows for precise extraction, allowing for the coffee’s unique characteristic to shine, resulting in a cup that is bright and sweet and brings focus on the flavors instead of the mouthfeel.
Medium roast coffee is a harmonious balance between acidity and body. It appears somewhere between light and dark roast in terms of color, and embodies a well-rounded profile, presenting moderate sweetness along with hints of fruitiness and chocolate.
With a pronounced body and chocolaty undertones, this roast profile offers a richer experience to your morning brew.
Dark roast coffee is dark brown (sometimes closer to black in colour), and will often have a shiny, oily coat on the surface.
Dark roast coffee has a fuller, more heavy body, contains the least acidity, and tends to have a much deeper and darker flavour. Some even describe dark roast coffee to taste slightly smokey and ashy.
If you’re a fan of the traditional “Kopi-O” type coffee, this roast will be right up your alley.
Caffeine Content Misconception
You may have the assumption that dark coffee will have the highest caffeine content. That however, is a misconception because light roast actually contains the highest caffeine content in general.
Do note that if you’re choosing your coffee based on the caffeine content, that the type of coffee, its origins, the amount of coffee used and most importantly the brewing method will contribute to how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee.
Our Mission
We at Micken Coffee are continuously improving and refining our roasting process to ensure you’ll get the perfect tasting coffee in each bag. We believe everyone deserves to enjoy delicious, affordable coffee for every occasion. Whether you’re looking for a lovely fruity light roast on a Sunday morning, or a strong dark roast to help kick off your day, we want you to enjoy a uniquely roasted and delightful tasting coffee that’s truly out of this world.
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