Coffee Bean - Different Types of Coffee Beans
We are certainly familiar with the fact that a typical cup of coffee starts out from a coffee bean but are we aware of how these coffee beans are roasted and the time consuming roasting process?
The roasting process is when the coffee beans are in their raw state (green) and the beans are subjected to various degrees of heat for certain amounts of time to achieve the different types of coffee roasts. During the roasting process the coffee beans pass through various stages. The first stage is that the water in the coffee bean slowly begins to evaporate. The coffee bean now swells to twice its size and volume which will cause the silvery color to break down and fall off (this is the chaff that is removed from the bottom of the roaster after the process is complete). The color of the coffee bean now will proceed through different color stages beginning with its original green in the raw state to yellow, to yellow brown to light brown and then to a deep dark rich brown. The coffee aroma develops from a series of chemical reactions as the coffee bean continues to roast. A coffee bean in its original green state has absolutely no aroma.
There are many different roasts of coffee beans on the market today but the following are the most popular.
Dark Roasts- Dark roast coffee beans roast for approximately 14 minutes. The most common dark roast coffee is the Italian Roast which is also known as the “Heavy Roast”, with their coffee beans being roasted to a jet black color giving the beans a smoky, full flavor which hides the natural flavor of the original bean.
Medium Dark Roasts- Medium dark roast coffee beans are roasted for 12-13 minutes. This is when the beans are roasted just long enough to bring the natural oils of the coffee bean to the surface. Popular medium dark roast coffee beans are also known as French Roast (used to make espresso), Continental Roast, Viennese Roast, and Full City Roast.
Medium Roasts- Medium roast coffee beans are roasted between 9-11 minutes. Here the ending result is a balanced body with a balanced flavor. Some well known medium roasts are Breakfast Roast, American Roasts (which are not as dark as any European roast but still have a great flavor), and City Roasts.
Light Roasts- Light roast coffee beans only roast for approximately seven minutes. A light roast will provide a very subtle, light bodied flavor. Popular light roasts are New England Roast, Half City Roast and Cinnamon Roast.
As you can see the process of roasting coffee beans is precise work but worth every effort.