Roasting: A Process That Turns Coffee into COFFEE

The aroma that coffee is associated with, is not only inherent, but also is a result of the heating process called roasting. The green coffee beans when roasted, turns dark brown and fragrant. This is the brown beans that we know as coffee beans.

Green beans Vs the roasted beans

The green beans are entirely different form the roasted brown beans. The green bean is soft and spongy, and smells like grass. Roasted beans and crunchy and smell like coffee. The roasted beans weigh less than the green beans because there is no moisture in it. The roasted coffee can be ground and brewed. The green coffee beans can be stored for a long time, however, the roasted brown beans have to be consumed as quickly as possible, otherwise, the flavor and freshness may diminish.

Roasting- The technique

Roasting is a skill and takes many years to be perfected to bring out the aroma locked inside the green beans. An expert roaster needs to be able to read the beans and take decisions in a fraction of seconds. A decision delayed for a few seconds can ruin the whole batch of the beans. The perfectly roasted beans can get burnt in a matter of seconds if not removed. Roasting involves bringing the bean rapidly to high temperature which causes numerous chemical changes in the coffee beans. When the beans are perfectly roasted, it should be quickly cooled to prevent it from getting burnt.

Types of Roasts

There are four types of roasts:

• Light roasts are light brown in color, and are milder in taste. These roasted beans are not roasted enough for the oil to break through, therefore, there would be no oil on the surface.
• Medium roasts are medium brown in color and have a strong flavor with non-oily surface. It is referred to as American roast because it is the preferred coffee in the United States.
• Medium dark roasts are rich and dark in color with some oil on the surface. This variety has a slight bittersweet aftertaste.
• Dark roasts are shiny black in color, and have an oily surface. They have a distinct bitterness. Dark roasts may vary from slightly dark to char in color. The darker the roast, the less acidity will be found in the coffee beverage.

The type of roast you choose for your coffee depends upon your personal preferences, individual needs, geographical location and export/important convenience in the country.