Did you know that it is particularly important for baristas to ensure that the coffee they brew is perfectly roasted?
That’s why there are people in the coffee industry who only do one thing: roast coffee. But what exactly does that mean, and what is the process they follow?
Most importantly, how does roasting affect the taste of coffee? This is what I will be talking to you about today.
Here’s an overview of what I will cover:
Definition of roasting
What is the meaning of roasting anyway?
According to dictionaries, roasting means "exposing a substance to high heat for a long time without the addition of fat or water so that it is cooked, gets a brown crust, and becomes crispy".
In the case of coffee roasting, this refers to the raw coffee beans. Roasting coffee is the process by which coffee beans are roasted to get the deep brown color we all know and love. When roasting coffee, the so-called roasted aromas are created in the coffee bean.
Why is roasting coffee so important?
The seeds of the coffee cherry are called coffee beans. These are processed and dried after the harvest, which also plays an important role in the flavor profile of coffee.
Before roasting, the raw coffee beans are green and have a bean-like, grassy aroma. In fact, green coffee beans don't smell at all the way we imagine coffee to smell. This is because coffee only develops 800 to 1000 different aromatic substances when it is roasted.
And these substances give the coffee its unique taste. Depending on the type of roast, the roaster can influence the development of these aromatic substances and thus also determine the taste of the coffee.
Roasting process
Roasting coffee simply means that green coffee beans turn brown. The roasting process itself consists of different phases. Depending on what happens in these individual phases, this affects the taste of your favorite hot beverage.
So what exactly happens during the roasting process? There are three basic stages in roasting: drying, browning, and developing or roasting.
Drying
The raw coffee bean has a moisture content of 8–12%. Therefore, it is necessary to dry them before starting the actual roasting.
As a rule, the drying phase with a commercially available drum roaster takes about 4 to 8 minutes. Towards the end of the drying process, the temperature is usually around 160°C.
However, it is advisable to be careful, especially with drum roasters, because if they are heated too much right at the beginning, the beans will burn.
Browning
From 160°C on, the coffee begins to smell like toasted bread. From this moment on, the flavor precursors begin to transform into flavors. Even if the browning takes place after drying, the drying phase is also continued during the browning.
Now the Maillard reaction sets in, which is responsible for the brown coloration of the coffee beans. In the Maillard reaction, sugar levels and amino acids react, creating hundreds of different flavor and color compounds.
These are known as melanoids. During this phase, the roasting process naturally slows down. Some roasters deliberately slow it down at this point to ensure that the flavor develops.
Towards the end of the browning phase, the coffee beans begin to burst. This phenomenon is called the "first crack". The development, or roasting, phase begins with it.
Developing/roasting
At the beginning of the development or roasting phase, the reaction of the coffee bean becomes exothermic. This means that the bean has stored energy during the drying and browning processes, which now causes the coffee to burst.
In the development phase, the desired flavoring substances develop. If we do not slow down the roasting process at this stage, there is a risk that our coffee will taste smoky and become too bitter.
The development phase typically comprises around 15–25% of the total roasting time. However, the exact duration depends on the desired taste profile and degree of roasting.
Roast level
The so-called degree of roast is one of the most important factors when roasting coffee because it measures the various roasting results you can get.
The degree of roasting can be influenced by varying the temperature and roasting time and has a decisive influence on the aroma, taste, and purpose of the coffee. You can actually measure the degree of roasting either with a color measuring device or by tasting.
Roasters usually want to intensify the coffee's own aromas and achieve a corresponding degree of roasting. Typically, light-roasted coffee is acidic, and dark-roasted coffee is bitter. Fruity aromas are also more common in light roasts, while smoky aromas are more common in heavily roasted coffee.
As a rule of thumb, you can assume that a light roast brings out the character of the green coffee better. By the way, it is easier to distinguish light-roasted beans from one another than dark ones.
The different degrees of roasting - an overview
| Type of roast | |
| Light Cinnamon Roast | extremely light roast that arises before the first crack |
|
Light Roast |
light roast, also called pale or cinnamon roast. It is ready around the time of the first crack. Light roasts taste more sour, but hardly bitter. They often have distinct citrus notes. |
| Medium Roast (American Roast) | medium-strong, medium-brown roast. It is traded as a breakfast roast or American roast, among other things. Very balanced with a full body. |
| City Roast and Full City Roast | medium to dark brown color. Arises between the first and the second crack. |
| Dark Roast (Vienna Roast) | dark roast, which can be recognized by the small drops of oil that collect on the coffee bean. It is also called Viennese roast or light French roast. Darker roasts taste slightly sweet, but bitter. They often have strong and chocolate flavors. |
| French roast | very dark roast. It is also called continental roast or double roast. The surface of the coffee bean is shiny. |
| Italian roast | very dark roast. By the way, it is also known as espresso roast. The surface of the coffee bean is very shiny. |
| Spanish roast (Neapolitan Roast) | the darkest roast that is still drinkable. The beans are almost black and the surface dull. |
| Torrefacto | With this type of Spanish roasting, the coffee beans are roasted with added sugar. The torrefacto coffee is usually mixed as a blend with a regularly roasted coffee. Torrefacto components in coffee blends reduce acidity and bitterness. |
Roasting time
Even if the degree of roasting has the greatest influence on the aroma profile of the coffee, the total roasting time and the time that each individual phase of the roasting process takes are also important factors.
If you roast the coffee quickly, you get more of the desired aromas. The overall aroma of the coffee (fruity, berry-like, chocolatey, and nutty) becomes stronger. Please click here to learn more about flavor profiles. The number of flavorings that are created at the beginning of the development phase is also higher with fast roasting.
In some cases, however, quick roasting doesn't make sense. Because the quick roast enhances all the aromas in the coffee. If we don't want some aromas in our coffee, we have to adjust the roast profile accordingly.
For example, some acidity in coffee is usually desirable. In the case of espresso blends, on the other hand, customers often prefer a rather low acid content. Slow roasting gives the organic caffeic acids more time to break down. This makes the coffee less acidic overall. In such a case, slow roasting could be useful.
Final Thoughts
Well, one thing is for sure: roasting coffee is never boring. On the contrary, it helps you learn a lot about your favorite drink. It’s true that when it comes to roasting, things get a bit technical, but the actual process is not that difficult to do once the roaster knows what kind of flavor profile suits the bean better.
And now that you know all about the different degrees of roasting, you can try a few different ones and see which ones suit your taste better!
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FAQs about How Roasting Affects Coffee Taste
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About the author
Kei Nishida
Author, CEO Dream of Japan
Certification: PMP, BS in Computer Science
Education: Western Washington University
Kei Nishida is a passionate Japanese tea and coffee connoisseur, writer, and the founder and CEO of Japanese Coffee Co. and Japanese Green Tea Co., both part of Dream of Japan.
His journey began with a mission to introduce the world to the unparalleled quality of Japanese green tea. Through Japanese Green Tea Co., he established the only company that sources premium tea grown in nutrient-rich sugarcane soil—an innovation that led to multiple Global Tea Champion awards.
Building on this success and his passion for Japanese craftsmanship, Kei expanded into the world of coffee, pioneering the launch of Japanese Coffee Co., the first company to bring Sumiyaki charcoal-roasted coffee to a global audience. His dedication to authenticity and quality ensures that this traditional Japanese roasting method, once a well-kept secret, is now enjoyed worldwide.
Beyond tea and coffee, Kei has also introduced Japan’s legendary craftsmanship to the world through Japanese Knife Co., making handmade katana-style knives—crafted by a renowned katana maker—available outside Japan for the first time.
Kei’s journey continues as he seeks out and shares the hidden treasures of Japan, one cup and one blade at a time.
Learn more about Kei
