Have you ever wondered why coffee beans have varying colors? This is because of the roasting processes that the beans go through. Whether you are a coffee connoisseur, coffee lover, or just the regular coffee drinker, it pays to know the different types of roasted coffee beans that are out in the market. And if you didn’t know, coffee coming from different regions will taste different even if it was roasted the same way.
Very light roast is also known as half-city roast, cinnamon roast, and New England roast. This kind produces coffee that is dry, with an acidic or sour taste and sometimes grainy. The beans are tan or yellow colored. A light roast is for milder coffee variants and no oil comes out as the beans are not roasted for a long time. This kind is sometimes called a city or American roast and the beans come out medium brown. Medium sometimes is referred as full city, Vienna, or continental roast. The effect of this roast on the beans as it starts to darken is a smooth flavor. The coffee tends to be acidic but slightly sweet.
Dark roasts, oftentimes called Italian, turn out darker brown beans to almost jet black bringing the natural oil out. The beans have a smoky taste and have a pungent flavor. Roasting time takes about 14 minutes. Darkest roasts or French roast has a smoky taste like that of burnt charcoal with a bitter aftertaste. This kind of roast is oily and mostly used for espresso. The beans are really shiny and have shorter shelf life because of the amount of natural oil that came out during the roasting period.
The darker the roast is does not mean that it is better compared to the others. It just means that the beans have a burnt quality that will affect the taste of the beans. Roasting is done up to 450F degrees and roasting time is from nine to 14 minutes. The crackling sound is a signal for the roaster to determine what stage the roasting is at. Once the roasting is completely done, beans are removed immediately and have to be cooled as quickly as possible. As they cool almost 600 chemicals are released that gives the coffee its aroma and body.
When they have cooled down, the roasted coffee beans are then sent to a machine to take away other coffee particles. Then they are evened out and dried and then finally packed, ready for distribution. Bear in mind that dark roasts stay fresh for quite a few weeks however light and medium roasts to drop their flavor within days. To enjoy your roasted coffee beans, consume them within a week. There is no single roast that is best for coffee beans. It all depends on your choice and preference. Let your taste decide.
Greg has been writing articles for over 4 years. Please visit his latest website about gourmet coffee at Coffee Bean Reviews [http://www.coffeebeanreviews.org], with information on finding the best Roasted Coffee Beans [http://www.coffeebeanreviews.org/roasted-coffee-beans.html], with ideas and discussions that any coffee lover would be interested in.
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