The difference between high roast and medium roast coffee beans

The difference between high roast and medium roast coffee beans

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and the degree of roasting of coffee beans has an important impact on the taste and flavor. In the market, the two most common roasting degrees are high roasting and medium roasting. This article will explore the effects of these two different degrees of roasting on coffee beans.

1. Appearance

Highly roasted coffee beans usually appear dark brown or black, with a shiny and smooth surface. Medium roasted coffee beans appear lighter in color, usually light brown or dark brown. This is because high temperature and long-term processing causes the internal moisture to be lost, the oil to oxidize, and a shiny outer skin to be formed.

2. Flavor

High roasting will produce more carbonized and bitter substances inside the coffee beans, so the taste is bitter and the acidity is low. This roasting method is often used to make strong Italian coffee, which is characterized by a mellow taste and strong bitterness.

In contrast, medium roasting retains the original flavor characteristics of coffee beans. Due to better control of temperature and time, medium roasted coffee beans have higher acidity and rich aroma. This roasting method is suitable for making light and fragrant single-origin coffee.

3. Caffeine Content

High roasting will cause the internal moisture of coffee beans to be lost and cause material conversion, thereby reducing the content of organic acids and caffeine. In contrast, medium roasting retains more original ingredients and shows a higher degree of vitality in the taste.

4. Applicable scenarios

Since high temperature and long processing bring strong bitter taste, highly roasted coffee beans are usually used in the preparation of various milk products to balance the sweetness of the milk products themselves. This roasting method is suitable for making coffee drinks such as latte and cappuccino.

Medium roasted coffee beans are more suitable for single-origin drinking because they can better show the original flavor and aroma. For those who like to savor the flavor of coffee, medium roasting is a good choice.

5. Storage period

Since highly roasted coffee beans lose more moisture and their surface oils oxidize, their shelf life is relatively long. However, medium roasted coffee beans retain more of their original ingredients and moisture, so their shelf life is relatively short.

in conclusion

High roasting and medium roasting are two common ways of processing coffee beans. They have obvious differences in appearance, flavor, content, and applicable scenarios. Whether you like strong and bitter or light and fragrant, you can choose different degrees of brewing methods according to your taste preferences to enjoy the charm of coffee.