French roast coffee is a popular style at OMG Coffee Company and one that many coffee drinkers prefer. This dark-roasted coffee has a smoky sweetness and can often have a charred taste. This has caused some coffee geeks to refer to it as 'burnt' coffee.
Yet, how does French roast compare to other coffee beans? If you're looking for something a bit lighter or darker, which style should you choose?
French Roast Coffee
French roast coffee is one of many coffee roasts named for a regional roasting style. It was popular throughout much of Europe around the turn of the 19th century. Today, the term is used most often when describing almost any dark-roasted coffee.
Sometimes, French roast is also referred to (colorfully) as Turkish roast, (incorrectly) as Espresso roast, or (simplistically) as Dark roast.
Trivia Time:
Other regional roasts include New England roast coffee, Spanish roast coffee, Italian roast coffee, American roast coffee, and Vienna roast coffee.
What Does French Roast Taste Like?
French roast is considered to be a double roast coffee. This category of dark roasted coffee is characterized by an intense and smoky-sweet flavor, accompanied by a thin body and mouthfeel.
Compared to lighter roasts (like cinnamon light roast coffee, which is highly acidic), French roast coffee is far less acidic and roasted in flavor. It often has a charred, charcoal-like note.
Dark roasts like French roast completely overpower the flavor and aroma nuances of the coffee beans themselves. That makes it nearly impossible to taste much of the origin or coffee varietal of the beans.
To summarize, the profile of French roast coffee is:
Intense and bold
Very dark (nearly burnt, often smoky)
Somewhat sweet
Much less acidic than lighter roasts
Thin in body, with a more watery mouthfeel than some coffees
How Is French Roasted Coffee Roasted?
During the roasting process, the internal temperature of the coffee beans reaches a whopping 464 F (240 C).
As coffee roasts get "darker," the color of the coffee beans darkens, and more coffee oils appear on the surface. In keeping with these characteristics, French roast coffee beans are dark brown and shimmering with oil.
French roast beans are also at the end of what's called the "second crack." This means they are cooked with such intensity that they make two cracking noises during the roasting:
One crack comes from the release of steam.
Another crack happens when the cell walls break down and release oils to the surface of the beans.
In most roasts, coffee beans only crack once.
How Much Caffeine Is In French Roast Coffee?
You might see 'dark French roast' on some bags of coffee. This is similar to regular French roast but darker and oilier looking. It has a stronger charred flavor than regular French roast. To be sure, dark French roast coffee is a very dark roast, but if you're looking for something that's even darker, choose Spanish roast coffee. It is the darkest roast available.
What Coffee Is Lighter Roasted Than French Roast Coffee?
The espresso roast is just a little lighter. It is the most popular roast for espresso shots. Lighter than that is the Full roast, a roast category that includes High roast, Continental Roast, and Vienna roast
How Should I Brew French Roast Coffee?
French roast beans are traditionally used for drip-brewed coffee. They also make an excellent, bold espresso and do well when brewed in a 'French press' (aka a 'plunger pot').
Комментарии