The secrets of coffee roasting: exploring the four stages and four roasting degrees

Coffee roasting is an art that involves four stages and four roasting degrees. From raw beans to cooked beans, the control of temperature and time during the roasting process affects the taste and aroma of coffee. Light-medium roasting makes the surface of coffee beans light brown, releasing a sweet and sour taste; medium roasting presents a caramel color with a balanced taste; deep roasting is dark brown with a rich and long-lasting taste. Different roasting methods bring different coffee experiences, which are worth exploring and tasting in depth.

In the world of coffee, roasting is a mysterious yet important step. It is like a magic that fully stimulates the potential of coffee beans and brings out charming flavors. This article will take you into the world of coffee roasting and explore its four stages and four main roasting degrees.

1. The four stages of coffee roasting

1. Very light roasting : The surface of the coffee beans at this stage is light brown. The coffee beans themselves retain a lot of moisture. The roasting time is short and the temperature rises rapidly, which makes the coffee beans produce a slight caramel aroma. The very light roasted coffee has a bright taste, obvious sourness, strong fruity aroma and a little grassy taste.

2 Light roasting : At this time, the surface of the coffee beans begins to turn golden yellow, and the internal moisture is slightly lost. At this stage, the chemical reaction inside the coffee beans gradually intensifies, producing a unique coffee aroma. Lightly roasted coffee tastes fresh, with a balance of fruity acidity and sweetness, and a soft coffee aroma.

Medium roasting : As the roasting continues, the surface of the coffee beans becomes dark brown and moisture is further lost. Medium roasting causes the starch inside the coffee beans to begin to decompose, producing a richer coffee aroma. At this time, the coffee has a mellow taste, enhanced sweetness, and gradually reduced acidity, showing a unique flavor balance of coffee.

Dark roasting : At this stage, a lot of oil appears on the surface of the coffee beans and the color is dark. Dark roasting completes most of the reactions inside the coffee beans, producing rich caramel and chocolate aromas. Dark roasted coffee has a strong taste, with strong bitterness and sweetness, but some delicate flavors may be lost due to over-roasting.

2. Characteristics of the four roasting levels

1. Light-medium roast : The color of coffee beans with this roasting degree is between light and medium, with distinct fruit acidity and bright taste. They are suitable for coffee lovers who like fresh and lively taste. Light-medium roasted coffee is easy to control during extraction and is suitable for extraction methods such as hand brewing and filtration.

Medium roasted : Medium roasted coffee beans have uniform color and a balanced and rich taste. They are suitable for most coffee bean varieties and show the unique flavor of the coffee itself. Coffee of this roasting degree is suitable for various extraction methods and is also the main choice of many coffee shops and home coffee machines.

Medium-dark roast : Coffee beans that are dark in color but not overly oily are medium-dark roasted. They have a rich coffee aroma and a stronger bitterness, and are suitable for people who like strong flavors. When extracting medium-dark roasted coffee, you need to pay attention to the time to avoid over-extraction and produce excessive bitterness.

Dark roasted : Coffee beans at this roasting level are dark black in color, have an oily surface, and have a strong taste and intense bitterness. Dark roasted coffee is suitable for coffee lovers who like strong flavors and rich tastes, but it should be noted that over-roasting may cause the coffee beans to lose some of their delicate flavor and taste.

When exploring the four stages and four roasting degrees of coffee, we can't help but marvel at the diversity of coffee. Different roasting degrees bring completely different flavors and tastes to coffee, making each cup of coffee unique. Choose the roasting degree that suits you and savor the charm of coffee!