Medium Roasts
You're bound to have seen the phrase 'medium roast' on packs of coffee, but what does it really mean? When you're buying specialty coffee, the roast has a real impact on flavour, and here's how to know what you're buying.
Coffee beans that are fresh off the tree are naturally green and only become the distinctive brown ovals you know after careful processing and roasting. Roasting not only dries out the coffee beans, it draws out their natural flavours, with a roasted, toasted flavour added as you move from light to medium and dark. Which roast level you prefer is personal choice, but we'd advise you to experiment with light medium and dark to find your favourite.
If you like your roasts light, you want to taste the coffee as close to its natural form as possible. If you prefer a dark roast, you probably like the earthy, smoky flavour the roasting process adds. A dark roast can be quite intense, so if in doubt, a medium is always a good bet. Some coffee connoisseurs believe that a medium roast coffee is the best of both worlds, retaining the natural taste of the bean enhanced with a subtle roasted flavour.
Coffee roasters like us know the best roast for each variety, and treat every crop with care to make sure it tastes its very best. We use state of the art automation in the roast to ensure consistent quality specialty coffee that tastes just as the grower intended every single time. And if you like your roasts medium, we'll find the perfect balance for you.
Can I tell if it's medium roast by looking at the beans?
You can. Generally a medium roast coffee bean is a darker brown than a light roast, though of course, you can probably only tell this looking at them side by side. But there is another way to tell a medium roast from a light roast by looking, and that's by looking for a coating of oil on the surface.
Light roasts will have a dry appearance whereas medium dark roasts will appear oily, as many of the oils have been drawn out in the roasting process. Dark roast beans will look even shinier still. If you like your roast medium and can see the beans you're buying, this is a great way to judge a roasted coffee by eye.
Can I tell if its medium roast coffee from the taste?
Absolutely. Medium roasts tend to be sweeter than a light roast, with balanced acidity and more body. Coffee that has been medium roasted also start to take on some of the flavours of the roast, where lighter roasts retain more of their bright, natural flavour. Not all medium roast coffees taste the same. Roasted beans taste different depending on the roast but there's so much more at play, like variety, country of origin, climate and how the beans are treated after they're picked. A dark roast will always be smokier, but even darker roasts will have their own unique qualities depending on the beans they're made from. The coffee roast process can do a lot to enhance the natural flavour of the coffee but the flavour notes, brightness and texture are mainly down to the great quality coffee that goes into the coffee roasting machine.