Arabica Coffee: Right Roast Level for The Various Types of Coffee Beans | Gourmet Coffee

If you’ve decided to get into gourmet coffee for the first time, first of all - congratulations! Trust us when we say you’ll never tire of experimenting with endless different types of coffee beans from premium producers worldwide.

That said, if you really want to get the most out of the various types of coffee beans, you’re going to need to learn a few of the technicalities. One of which being the perfect roast level for your personal preferences.

From the simplest Arabica coffee to the most exclusive gourmet coffee on the market, the roast level can and will make a big difference to your overall enjoyment. You will typically have three options available when ordering coffee from a roaster - light, medium or dark roasted coffee. 

As a general rule to go by, the different types of coffee beans begin tasting more and more similar as the roasting process intensifies. By contrast, lighter roasts make it easier to pick up on the unique flavour notes and characteristics of the various types of coffee beans you try.

Is there an ‘ideal’ roast level? Not at all – it comes entirely down to your own personal preferences. So with this in mind, what follows is a brief overview of what can be expected from the three primary roasting levels, which should make things easier when shopping for outstanding gourmet coffee:

Light Roasted Arabica Coffee

First up, light roasted coffee brings out all the complex flavours and aromas contained within the bean. Contrary to popular belief, lighter-roasted beans are by no means weaker in flavour. In fact, many newcomers to Arabica coffee can find lighter roasts somewhat overpowering. From cocoa to peanuts to dry wine to fresh flowers, light roasted coffee is perfect for anyone looking to pinpoint and enjoy each of the individual flavour notes their coffee brings to the table. Light roast tends to be complex in the extreme, though may not always be particularly well balanced.

Medium Roasted Gourmet Coffee

The vast majority of Arabica coffee lovers find themselves going for medium roasted beans above all others. The reason being that a good medium roast combines the best of all worlds. Along with bringing out the complex flavours of the oils and compounds within the bean, taking the roasting a little further can improve balance and depth. Things become noticeably smoother and more palatable, though without eliminating those beautiful citrus, berry and general fruity notes that make gourmet coffee so amazing.

Dark Roasting Various Types of Coffee Beans

Last but not least, dark roasted coffee takes things to extremes in terms of richness, boldness and body. The whole thing takes on an almost burnt and acrid flavour, which for those who like their coffee intense can be perfect.  Nevertheless, the further you go with the roasting process, the more difficult it becomes to separate an everyday Arabica coffee from a truly exquisite cup of gourmet coffee. Still, if this is how you like your coffee, go right ahead!

At Hayman’s online store, you can order the best types of coffee beans, which are fresh roasted for you and shipped on the same day for maximum freshness. Our incredible Arabica coffee is medium roasted by default, but we can also light or dark roast it if you wish so (just send us an email with your preference) – click here order your gourmet coffee today, we offer free worldwide shipping!