Are you a coffee drinker who’s still looking for your favorite kind? Do you want to know more about the difference between light and dark roasts? Do you want to make sure you’re getting all the health benefits in your usual morning cup of Joe?
64% of American adults drink coffee daily. Considering the continuous growth of coffee drinkers, it’s not surprising that more people also want to know about what they drink. In this guide, we’ll talk about light roast vs dark roast coffee beans.
Read on for the difference between the two as well as the health benefits they offer. If you make it up to the end, we’ll give you the verdict.
1. The Roasting Difference
The major difference between light and dark roast coffee is the amount of roasting time. When you roast coffee beans, you’re getting water out of the bean via evaporation. The longer you roast the beans, the darker they become.
The more evaporation goes on in a bean, the less dense it becomes. Thus, light roast coffee is often denser than dark roast coffee. This is why light roast coffee has more caffeine and flavor, which we’ll talk about later.
Sometimes, the difference isn’t the time but the temperature. Dark roast means the beans stayed on the roasting machine at a higher temperature or for a longer time. From what we learned earlier, it’s safe to say dark roast coffee beans have a thinner density than light roast.
Before we move on, let’s bust a coffee myth. On the caffeine content on light roast vs dark roast, some say that both have the same amount of caffeine. This is true.
The myth is when people say that a scoop of dark roast has more caffeine or is “stronger”. If you measure coffee by volume or scoopful, you’re not considering the density of the beans.
If you want to know the true difference, measure beans by mass or by weight. You’ll see that light roast beans are denser, which means 50g of it holds more caffeine than 50g of dark roast. Though there’s a slight difference, it’s very minimal and almost has no impact.
2. Health Benefits
Most of us already know that coffee has antioxidants that help protect us against health problems. However, dark roasts and light roasts have different health benefits. If you’re health-conscious, you’re sure to enjoy knowing how light or dark roast coffee will affect you.
Let’s start with the health benefits of light roast coffee. A study found that lighter roasts have higher levels of antioxidants activity. Lighter roasts also have higher chlorogenic acid content, which reduces high blood pressure.
The effect of chlorogenic acid is like caffeine, only it isn’t as potent as caffeine. Other than that it reduces blood pressure, it’s also used as an anti-diabetes supplement. Some even use it as an anti-obesity supplement.
While not all anti-oxidants are anti-inflammatory (and vice versa), light roasts carry more antioxidants. This means it can help against the inflammations of chronic diseases. These diseases include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or Alzheimer’s.
If you do have the diseases mentioned above, remember that coffee isn’t a cure. It only helps lighten their effect of the disease on the body. Seek medical attention if you haven’t yet for these diseases.
Now, dark roast coffee lovers might want to change roasts. However, dark roast coffee has some health benefits still. It still has antioxidants that fight off inflammation.
It only so happens that lighter roasts have more health benefits.
3. Flavor and Texture
If you remember, light roast coffee is denser than dark roast. This means that the bean holds more taste than dark coffee. This often fits coffee types with fruity, herbal flavors.
The sooner the coffee bean is out of the heat, the more flavors it still has. Also, if you’re looking for coffee with more caffeine content, a light roast is your best friend.
The thinner dark roast coffee beans lose more moisture in the roasting machine. This is why dark coffee has typical coffee tastes. These include the taste of roasted nuts, graham crackers, and caramel.
Another difference between light and dark roasts is the texture of the coffee. Coffee beans put under a light roast give a thinner body. If you drink it, it’s like drinking strong black tea.
Dark roast coffee has a fuller, thicker texture. This is because their longer roasting process lets the beans develop oils and bring them to the surface.
4. Light Roast vs Dark Roast: Verdict
Finally, it’s time to know which the better choice is for you coffee lovers out there. As with most things, you should base this decision on your preferences.
Do you like flavorful coffee? Do you want a touch of complexity in every sip? Do you want to drink something that doesn’t offer as much thickness in each nip?
Do you prefer something with more brightness or “acid”? If your answer to the above-mentioned questions is yes, light roast coffee is what you want. Light roast coffee suits those who want a taste of adventure in their cup.
When it comes to flavor, do you like your coffee straightforward? Do you want something thicker and richer even if it offers a singular flavor? Do you enjoy your coffee more with a decadent chocolatey flavor?
Dark roast coffee is for you if your answer to those questions above is yes. It’s the kind of roast for those who love their coffee with low acidity and deeper, darker flavors. Dark roast coffee thrives best with flavors that are nutty, caramel-like, or chocolatey.
Remember, caffeine content remains the same whether you choose light or dark roast. The only way to get more caffeine is to add more coffee. If you’re looking to have less caffeine in your cup, decaf coffees are always available for you.
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Coffee is as complex as wine in that it has so much potential. Every cup can be a unique and new experience. The roast of the beans is only one contributing factor to that journey.
Now, you know more about what makes a light roast vs dark roast. Share the knowledge with your friends and or let them read this guide.
But why stop here when we’ve got more for you to discover? If you want more content on everything coffee-related, check out our other guides.