Only 11% Of People Prefer This Roast Of Coffee
Few things hit as hard as a cup of coffee. It can rev your engine on a particularly early morning. It can warm you as the temperature drops outside. It can be the afternoon wind beneath your wings as the day starts to drag and your energy starts to lag. So, it's no surprise that people are fairly particular and passionate about their favorite preparation, whether that's a nitro cold brew, a frothy latte, or a straightforward mug of joe.
But there is still another factor, arguably a much more impactful one, that affects the flavor of coffee in myriad ways, and that's the roast. According to the National Coffee Association, roasting transforms unrecognizably-vegetal green coffee beans into the tan, bronze, brown, or almost black and crunchy beans that we're more familiar with. Along the way, the beans lose moisture, darken in color, and are subject to various chemical changes, most surprisingly a loss of caffeine concentration as the roasting process deepens. That means those folks who cherish a dark and rich cup of coffee are getting less of a jolt than people who like a lighter touch.
What's in a roast?
Tasting Table recently asked 515 people what their preference is when it comes to a coffee roast. The most popular by far was a medium roast, garnering 32.43% of the vote. Coming up short, at 11.26%, was light roast. So, let's take a look at the different levels of roasting and how they impact the overall characteristics of the coffee.
As Know Your Grinder explains, dark roasts go by many names, from New Orleans to Viennoise to Espresso. They are quite deeply colored and boast a full-bodied flavor with reduced acidity. Medium roasts are sold as Breakfast, City, Regular, and American, likely owing to their popularity stateside. In these, you'll find a middle-of-the-road acid content as well as a smoother, gentler flavor compared to intense dark roasts. Finally, light roasts might appeal to those looking to ease into coffee without overdoing it. They're low in acidity, body, and flavor in general, but they do pack in the most caffeine. You find light roasts labeled as Half City, Light City, New England, and Cinnamon roasts.
With so many coffee options from various roasts to countless preparation styles, there's almost certainly a coffee for everyone no matter their preference.