First let’s talk about taste. When you buy coffee you’ll see a lot of different words, we’ll just focus on a few: Light, Moderateand dark bake. Each roast type is prepared slightly differently, but the longer the sizzle, the darker the color. There are other variables in this, such as baking temperature, but for our purposes we’ll stick with the basics. Every second the coffee beans are in the roaster, they are changing. Their aroma, taste, color characteristics.
light roast Comes out of the roaster light golden brown. These beans are typically roasted at a lower temperature or for a shorter time, resulting in a lighter-colored coffee bean with a milder flavor. Light roasts usually taste a little floral, a little fruity, almost like you can taste the coffee cherry that the coffee bean once had nestled inside. To me, light roasts always taste like spring mornings in Portland. If Light Baking had a playlist, it would definitely start with Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dance Floor.”
medium roast It’s what I drink almost every morning. Medium roast coffee tends to come out of the roaster a rich, earthy brown color. They taste like warm spices, caramel and toffee, with a hint of chocolate. To me, a well-brewed medium roast tastes like a relaxing fall morning. Because they’re in the middle of the roasting range, they produce great-tasting coffee no matter how you brew them, so they’re also a great choice for versatility. A medium-roasted playlist is one you can listen to in the morning as you start your day or as you get ready to go out in the evening, filled with songs like Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.”
dark roast It’s my second favorite daily drink. No other baked good can produce the rich, rich, chocolatey flavor and roasted complexity that comes with a dark roast. Dark roasts are typically used for “espresso blends” but to my taste they make some of the best pour-over or Aeropress coffee. Either method will let those warm background flavors shine through and bring out some of the spicier flavors. For a dark roast playlist, I’d probably start with “Moonlight Magic” by Ashnikko.
2. Local sources
Photo: Grit
Time is important with coffee beans. shipping time, shelf time, your shelf. The longer it sits, especially after baking, the less fresh it will taste. Eventually, after about a week, you’ll start to notice a drop in quality. After two weeks, it will still be drinkable, but the coffee will taste much worse. To ensure you enjoy your coffee for the longest time, your best option is to buy local coffee.