| Five Unique Roasts |
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There are many different kinds of roasted coffee beans. The darkness simply denotes the degree to which the coffee bean has been roasted. Roasting begins with green coffee beans, or in other words unroasted coffee beans, when roasted thecoffee beans eventually turn, first into yellow and then on to various shades of brown. During the initial stages of roasting, the beans tend to stay dry, then when roasted darker they develop an oily sheen on thier surface. Lighter roasted coffee beans tend to retain more of their original flavor. By original flavor, I am talking about the distinctive taste of a coffee bean which is largely affected by the quality of the weather and soil where the coffee bean was grown. Darker roasted beans retain less of their original flavor, due to the roasting process. Light roasted coffee beans are characterized by a flavor that is light-bodied and with more acidity. They have less roast flavor. This is the preferred type of bean by American commercial roasted coffee bean producers. This type of roasted coffee bean is also characterized by the stage in roasting referred to as first crack. The bean is removed from the roaster when it has increased in size and has cracked. New England, half city and cinnamon roast are some examples of this type of coffee bean roast. Medium roasted coffee beans are preferred by specialty coffee shops in the United States. In terms of flavor they are sweeter, and they show a greater and more balanced aroma, and complexity of taste than light roasted coffee beans. Examples of medium roasted coffee beans are full city, breakfast, regular, American, and brown. Dark roast coffee beans are coffee beans that have reached that point in roasting called second crack. By this time, the bean cracks once more, and the coffee beans start to show oils an the surface. The flavor of dark roast coffee beans show less complexity of taste. However, there is a notably increased roast flavor and aroma, with a heavier body. Examples of dark roast coffee are full, espresso, Italian and High. Double roast coffee beans are made with even longer roasting of the coffee beans, to the point of the beans starting to smoke. At this time the sugars of the bean have begun to carbonize, and you will notice the surface to be oily. In terms of flavor, it is quite bitter and smoky, retaining much less of the original flavor of the coffee beans. It also has a charcoal aroma. An example of such is French roast. Coffee beans will show you to what degree they need to be roasted, if you pay attention. When roasting coffee beans you will notice the beans consistently getting darker, up to a certain point. Then they will hold that color for awhile and to get the coffee beans any darker you have to force them by turning up the heat on the roaster or roasting them longer than normal. www.sonocoffeebeans.com |