Coffee roasts are the typically the first thing we look for when choosing a coffee. With so many options out there, it can get overwhelming. What does it all mean? So we decided to give you a short guide to simplify the world of coffee roasts.
City – City +:
These are the “Light Roasts”. In the store you might see it called Light, Light City, or New England Roast. These beans tend to be a light brown color. When brewed they have herbal and floral hints to their aromas with a bright (read acidity), light body.
Full City – FC +:
The Medium roasts, the more popular roast in the US. These are your American Roast and Breakfast Roasts. With these brews you will smell hints of caramel and chocolate. They will have a medium body with a bittersweet taste, a balanced coffee.
Vienna – French:
Also known as Italian or Espresso Roasts. As your roasts progress from lighter to darker, you trade origin characteristics for roast characteristics. Here different region beans will start to taste more alike. The beans will be dark and have an oily feel to them. Once brewed, they will have a smoky bitter taste with a roasty dark chocolate nose. Contrary to popular belief, dark roasts have less caffeine than lighter roasts.
There’s really no industry standard for names, so you’ll find companies that call their roasts “light” but might actually compare to another company’s “Dark” roast. There’s no substitute to taste testing. In the end of the day, it’s about your personal preferences; it’s about what you enjoy.