The Roasting Guide: How Bean Roasting Transforms Your Coffee

Roasting is the magical step that transforms a green, hard, odorless coffee bean into a brown, aromatic, brew-ready bean. It's the cooking of coffee. Depending on the chosen roasting profile (the duration and temperature of roasting), the aromas of the same bean will radically change.

Discover the four main roasting families and how to choose the one that suits your taste.

• Color: Cinnamon to light brown. The bean is dry, with no oil on the surface.
• Taste: Very acidic, floral, and fruity.
• Distinguishing Feature: This roast best respects the coffee's original terroir. It features complex notes of citrus or jasmine. It contains slightly more caffeine.
• Ideal for: Gentle methods (Slow Coffee) such as V60, Chemex or filter coffee.

• Color: Medium brown (monk's robe color). The bean remains dry.
• Taste: Balanced. Acidity decreases to give way to sweetness and notes of dried fruits, milk chocolate, or caramel.
• Distinguishing Feature: This is the most versatile and popular profile. It offers an excellent balance between original acidity and bitterness developed by roasting.
• Ideal for: Almost all methods, especially French press and automatic coffee machines.

• Color: Dark brown. Slight traces of oil (sheen) begin to appear on the bean.
• Taste: Dense body, present bitterness, almost non-existent acidity. Notes of dark chocolate, spices, and roasted flavors.
• Distinguishing Feature: The roast flavor begins to overpower the original fruity aromas of the bean.
• Ideal for: A classic, round, and powerful espresso.

• Color: Blackish and very shiny (oils have completely migrated to the outside of the bean).
• Taste: Very bitter, full-bodied, and peppery. Notes of burnt, smoke, and bitter cocoa.
• Distinguishing feature: Often called "Italian" or "French" roast. The original terroir is completely overshadowed by the taste of the roast.
• Ideal for: Traditional strong espresso or milk-based drinks (like cappuccino) as the coffee flavor easily cuts through the milk.

In summary: how to choose?

• Do you like lightness, freshness, and fruitiness? Opt for Light Roast.
• Are you looking for the perfect balance and roundness? Choose Medium Roast.
• Do you want a powerful, intense coffee with no acidity? Go for Dark Roast.