Coffee aficionados know just how they like it. To them, coffee is more than just a drink, it’s
a ritual. It’s how they start their
morning off, get through a slow day at the office and often how they cap off a
perfect dinner and dessert.
Many coffee drinkers buy the cheapest at the grocery store
or order a popular concoction at the drive-thru coffeehouse. Sadly, they don’t know what they are missing. Drinking quality coffee can be a real culinary
treat. Savoring the tastes of perfectly
roasted bean and knowing you are not just getting a fine tasting bean but one
that is organically grown.
For the coffee drinking novice, the first step to fully
appreciating your brew is to learn which roast is the one that best suits your
palate. Light, medium, medium-dark and
dark are the four categories of roasts.
Light roasts are light brown in color and are generally
preferred for milder coffee varieties. There
will be no oil on the surface of these beans because they are not roasted long
enough for the oils to break through to the surface
Medium roast is medium brown in color with a stronger
flavor, and a non-oily surface. This
roast is commonly referred to as the American roast because it is generally preferred
in the United States.
Medium—dark roasts feature a rich, dark color with some oil
on the surface and with a slight bittersweet aftertaste.
Dark roasts are shiny black beans with an oily surface and a
pronounced bitterness. The darker the
roast, the less acidity will be found in the coffee beverage. Dark roast coffees run from slightly dark to
a charred color.
You can’t truly enjoy a cup of coffee until you have full
knowledge of what roast your taste buds prefer, and when conducting your taste
bud survey, using the finest, organic beans is the way to go!