The Process of Roasting Coffee
Before coffee beans can be turned into something drinkable they must first undergo a roasting process, whereby the beans become chemically transformed to bring out unique flavors and aromas that wouldn’t otherwise exist. During the coffee roasting process, the beans go from a green color to a golden color to the brown color that most people associate with coffee. The degree of browning or roasting depends on the desired outcome of the brewer. For a bolder, roastier bean profile, the brewer may decide to roast to French Roast, which is considered very dark. French Roast is the roast profile used by many of the commercial cafes including Starbucks and Peets Coffee. A lighter roast profile is often used by coffee enthusiasts in order to allow for the unique flavor compounds of different bean types to come through in the final cup. A roast profile somewhat less than French Roast will allow you to use your favorite small coffee maker to produce something truly fantastic.