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Types of Coffee Roasts & Coffee Flavor Profiles

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Types of Coffee Roasts & Coffee Flavor Profiles
Marlena S. Jan 29, 2020

Determine Your Preferred Coffee Roast Level

Light Roast Coffee Logo

Light Roast Coffee

Light roast coffee beans are light brown in color and are a preferred roast for more mild-bodied coffees. Light roast coffee should not have any oil on the surface of the coffee beans. If you prefer light, fragrant, floral or fruity coffee notes - you'll enjoy a light roast coffee.

AKA: Light City, Half City, Cinnamon, New England


Medium Roast Coffee Logo

Medium Roast Coffee

Medium roast coffee is medium brown in color with a non-oily surface. Traditionally, a medium roast is the most preferred type of coffee roast in America. If you prefer a flavorful, traditional cup of coffee you'll enjoy a medium roast.

AKA: City, American, Breakfast


Medium Dark Roast Coffee Logo

Medium-Dark Roast Coffee

Medium-dark roast coffee beans are a rich, dark brown color with a semi-oily surface. This type of roast produces a modest bittersweet aftertaste. If you prefer slight bittersweet notes and deep flavors, you'll enjoy a medium-dark roast.

AKA: Full City


Dark Roast Coffee Logo

Dark Roast Coffee

Dark roast coffee beans are nearly black, oily and produce a noticeable bitterness. The darker the coffee bean, the less acidity will be present in the coffee. If you prefer a heavy mouthfeel and strong flavor, you'll enjoy a dark roast coffee.

AKA: High, Continental, New Orleans, European, Espresso, Viennese, Italian, French


Determine Your Preferred Coffee Flavor Profile

Mild

Coffee with a mild body is not sharp, pungent or strong. Many light roast coffees normally possess a mild flavor profile.

Bold

Coffee with a bold body has a strong and noticeable flavor. Coffees from medium to dark roast levels normally possess a bold flavor profile.

Extra Bold

Coffee with an extra bold body has flavors that are extremely strong and pronounced. Dark roast coffees normally possess an extra bold flavor profile.

28 Comments

  • YR
    Yohann Rigogne

    What beans would you recommend to get decent, not bitter, espressos with a Breville Barista Express?

    FRC Logo Icon
    Team FRC

    While it would be nice if we had a Breville Barista Express right here in the office (hint, hint to the boss!) we don’t. However, with any coffee preparation, the two most important ingredients are fresh, clean water and freshly roasted, freshly ground coffee. Start with these two things and you’ll get better coffee, period. Regarding what beans to use, well that depends on your taste. A few of our choices like Tiger Nebula and organic Drago were blended for espresso and develop a beautiful body and rich crema. Venturing into the single origin realm, do you like heavy and dark? Try coffees from the Indo-Pacific region. Bright and fruity? Go to Africa! Spicy and full-bodied? Central America’s where you want to be. Starting with better coffee will definitely get you better espresso but from there, let your taste buds tell you where you want to go.

  • DS
    Debby Spence

    Do you sell decaf?

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    Team FRC

    Yup - and lots of it! All our decaf selections can be found HERE.

  • MC
    Marcelo de Campos

    Em qual estado e cidade são torrados os cafés?

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    Team FRC

    Todos os nossos cafés são torrados em Sunbury, Pensilvânia. (All our coffees are roasted in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.)

  • FJ
    Frederick Jamison

    Do you sell green beans for my home roaster?

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    Team FRC

    Of course! And a great place to start is our unroasted Home Roaster’s Starter Kits!

  • D
    De

    Can this be purchased in a store?

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    Team FRC

    Great question! And the answer is no - not yet, at least. To get Fresh Roasted Coffee it’s gotta be fresh roasted - as every single order from us is! And if it’s sitting on a shelf in a store or in a warehouse, it’s...well, you get the idea. However, we’re working on some new technology in packaging, sealing, and nitrogen-flushing (because oxygen is what makes your beans go stale) in order to keep your coffee fresher longer. Once that happens, don’t be surprised to see us.

  • B
    brigitte

    which of your coffees have the highest antioxidant content?

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    Team FRC

    We do not lab test any of our coffees for antioxidants. However, generally speaking, studies have shown that coffees roasted to medium have the highest degree of antioxidant activity.

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