Artisan Roast Coffee

Artisan roast coffee is made from single-source beans that are processed in small batches. This produces a fantastic tasting brew with excellent, complex flavors and an ethical supply chain to boot!

The flavour molecules, oils and aromas that create great tasting coffee are actually quite delicate. Mishandling or amateur practices can easily cause poor quality beans. Scorching or underdevelopment of the bean can be disastrous, as roasting temperature and duration must be exactly right.

Light Roast

The most delicate and nuanced of the roast levels, light roasted coffees showcase a range of unique notes derived from the beans’ original region. These hints of citrus fruits, berries, flowers, or tea are often complimented by a crisp acidity and light mellow body.

The shorter roast time of light roast coffee beans allows their natural flavors to shine through and be appreciated more than any other level of roast. This can lead to a wide array of complex flavor profiles that can taste like floral teas, chocolate liquors, blueberry pie, or tropical fruit salads.

Light roasted coffees also tend to have lighter mouthfeel or body than dark roast coffees, making them the perfect option for a black cup of coffee (or even better when served with milk). It’s important not to overbrew your light roast coffee as this can create bitter flavors and dryness. This is why filter coffee devices (V60s, Chemexes) work well with light roasted beans, as they give the flavour compounds more time to jiggle their way out of the ground into your cup of coffee.

Medium Roast

Medium roast coffee is roasted just enough to make the beans light brown in color, with no oil on the surface. It has a balanced, smooth flavor that showcases the natural flavor of each individual bean. The coffee is often nutty with notes of almonds and peanut butter or fruity with citrus and berry flavors.

It takes great skill to usher a coffee through the roasting process, and every little variation can impact the final cup of java. It is important to choose a roaster with a reputation for quality and consistency, and look for certifications such as Fair Trade and Organic that promote ethical standards.

The best medium roast coffee comes from renowned coffee-growing regions, such as Colombia and Brazil. The beans should be sourced from small, independent farms that practice sustainable growing methods. It’s also helpful to choose a blend of coffees for a well-rounded flavor profile. Single-origin beans will give a distinct flavor, but blends provide greater consistency.

Dark Roast

When coffee is roasted to a dark level, the beans develop a rich and full texture. They also begin to have a roasted sweetness that balances nicely with the acidity. This roast level is popular with coffee lovers who enjoy classic diner style coffee flavor.

During the dark roasting process, the coffee beans will develop a smoky or charred flavor as their oils burn and caramelize. These flavors can overpower the natural, unique flavors of the coffee beans themselves, which gives it that bitter, burnt taste some people hate.

The long dark roasting process can also cause the beans to lose some of their natural acids. This is why dark roasts tend to be less acidic than light and medium roasts. However, the acidity of the coffee will vary depending on the bean type, the grind size and the brewing method. Coffee is a highly caffeinated drink, but research has shown that moderate coffee consumption is actually good for you.

Flavored Roasts

Coffee beans come to us in a raw–or green–state and go through several processes before they’re ready to be ground up for your morning cup of joe. One of the most important is roasting, which affects the flavor, aroma and color of the coffee. Different roast levels produce a range of flavors.

Light roasts showcase the natural acidity and original coffee flavors, exhibiting floral, fruity and tea-like characteristics. Medium roasts often taste like milk chocolate, toasted nuts and caramel. They exhibit less pronounced acidity than light roasts but are not as bitter as dark roasts.

Flavored roasts are made using flavored oils that are mixed into the roasted coffee beans, coating them and leaving them to absorb the flavors. Some artisan roasters also use whole spices to add flavor to the beans, including cinnamon and vanilla. This is a popular option for those who prefer to add milk or other sweeteners to their coffee, as it helps balance the sweetness of the drink with the acidity of the bean.