Coffeeclues

Light roast coffee is also called as cinnamon roast or new England roast. It is a coffee that is subjected to less roasting. This coffee has a distinct and rich flavor. This article tries to explain about the most important characteristics of a coffee that is roasted lightly.

Characteristics of Light Roast Coffee

• Light roast coffee refers to a coffee type that is roasted only for a short period of time. This coffee beans are roasted until there is absolutely no oil or hint of oil on the bean surface.
• These roasts provide a wide variety of flavor possibilities. This coffee type has a citrus flavor with flowery aroma. It is known for its delicate flavor. It has high caffeine content in it.
• It was known that darkly roasted beans cause cancer. The reason for cancer development is because of the prolonged roasting time. Roasting for a longer time causes the production of acrylamide, a carcinogen. This acrylamide is much toxic than chloroform and benzene. The more the roasting is more is the acrylamide produced. However, this is not the case with lighter roasts. In case of lighter roasts, acrylamide is not produced as it is less roasted.
• Light roasts help the bean to retain its original flavor. This flavor is created within the bean by the weather and soil conditions of the place its grown. Coffee varieties grown in Kenya, Kona region and Java are lightly roasted to retain the original flavor of coffee.
• Lighter roasts decrease bean shrinkage. The beans show 8 to 10% lower shrinkage than the beans that are darkly roasted.
• The lighter roast is acidic and sharper when compared to darkly roasted coffee. Light roasts are also called as half city or new England or cinnamon roasts.
• The lighter the roast is, more is the quality of the bean.