Understanding the Various coffee accessories & Processes

Inside the Roast: Understanding the Coffee Roasting Process with Calgary’s Finest Roasters

86coffee - Coffee Experts May 13, 2025 Coffee

Behind every cup of coffee that makes you feel like you’re living you’re best life—there’s art and science at work

To understand how all of that works, take a journey through the most popular roasting processes used to achieve the diverse range of flavours that coffee lovers crave. Whether you’re a café owner, a restaurant manager, or you simply offer coffee at your office, understanding these processes will help you cater to a discerning clientele. Let’s take a closer look at the roasting processes that define the coffee experience.

Table of Contents | Inside the Roast: Understanding the Coffee Roasting Process with Calgary’s Finest Roasters

1. Light Roast: Bright and Fruity

2. Medium Roast: Balanced and Versatile

3. Medium-Dark Roast: Full Bodied with a Touch of Caramelization

4. Dark Roast: Bold and Intense

5. Espresso Roast: Concentrated Perfection

6. The Blended Roast: A Symphony of Flavours

Custom Roasts, Coffee Accessories, and More at 86 Coffee

1. Light Roast: Bright and Fruity

Light roasting is where the journey begins, capturing the essence of the coffee bean’s original flavour. This method retains most of the bean’s natural characteristics, offering a bright, fruity profile that is ideal for those who prefer a milder cup. Light roasts are perfect for showcasing the unique qualities of specialty beans and are something you must grab from the shelves when you’re at a coffee accessories store. For businesses, offering a light roast can diversify your menu and attract a clientele that appreciates subtlety in their brew.

Process: Roasted to an internal temperature of about 356°F to 401°F (180°C to 205°C).
Timing: Stopped shortly after the first crack.
Technique: Involves careful monitoring using equipment like drum or air roasters to avoid over-roasting.

2. Medium Roast: Balanced and Versatile

Often referred to as the “American roast,” medium roasting is a versatile process that balances acidity and body. It’s the perfect middle ground for coffee aficionados, offering a harmonious blend of flavour and aroma. Medium roasts are highly adaptable, making them a popular choice for coffee station accessories. This roast level is ideal for businesses looking to offer a balanced cup that pleases a wide audience. Your inventory of coffee supplies just wouldn’t be complete without it!

Process: Heated to an internal temperature of about 410°F to 428°F (210°C to 220°C).
Timing: Continued past the first crack but stopped before the second crack.
Technique: A balance of time and temperature is crucial, often managed with drum roasting for even heat distribution.

3. Medium-Dark Roast: Full Bodied with a Touch of Caramelization

Medium-dark roasting is perfect for those who appreciate a rich, full-bodied coffee without the intense boldness of a dark roast. The result is a coffee that offers a robust flavor profile, with a balance of acidity and body that highlights the beans’ inherent qualities while adding a touch of caramelization. Medium-dark roasts are versatile and can be enjoyed as a drip coffee or in various coffee drinks—and that’s exactly why they’re such a popular choice.

Whether it’s a cafe, office, or school, having a medium-dark roast provides an appealing option for customers who seek a complex, flavorful cup that’s neither too light nor too bold. Because it caters to a wide range of coffee enthusiasts, you can’t go wrong with adding this gem to your inventory!

Process: Beans reach an internal temperature of about 437°F to 446°F (225°C to 230°C).
Timing: The roast is stopped just at or shortly after the beginning of the second crack.
Technique: Requires precise control to achieve the rich, fuller body characteristic of this roast level, often using drum roasters for consistent results.

4. Dark Roast: Bold and Intense

Dark roasting is for those who love a robust, full-bodied coffee. You know—the type that just screams “I’m a cup of coffee” in every possible language. This process involves roasting the beans until they reach a deep, dark brown, resulting in a bold and intense flavour profile. A dark roast is often used in espressos and is a key component of coffee bar accessories. Every menu of coffee offerings needs a dark roast that can cater to customers who enjoy a strong, rich caffeine experience. Your lineup of coffee accessories just wouldn’t be complete without it!

Process: Roasted to an internal temperature of about 464°F to 482°F (240°C to 250°C).
Timing: Roast continues past the second crack, resulting in a darker, oilier appearance.
Technique: Precise control is crucial to prevent burning, typically using drum roasters for close monitoring.

5. Espresso Roast: Concentrated Perfection

Espresso roasting is a specialized process designed to enhance the rich, concentrated flavours that define espresso. Espresso roasts are typically darker, emphasizing a sweet, caramelized taste with low acidity. For businesses, having an espresso roast on the menu can elevate your coffee program and add a bit of *sparkle* to the usual offerings.

Process: Roasted to an internal temperature close to 464°F to 482°F (240°C to 250°C) to achieve a deep, rich flavour.
Timing: Roast continues just after the second crack, allowing oils to develop on the surface and enhancing the coffee’s body and sweetness.
Technique: Precision is essential to maintain the desired flavour profile, often using drum roasters for consistent heat application and careful monitoring.

6. The Blended Roast: A Symphony of Flavours

How do you create a symphony of flavours? Start by blending different beans and roast levels to create something totally out of this world. This process allows roasters to craft unique blends that cater to specific tastes and preferences, taking the art of roasting to a whole new level. Blends are perfect for businesses seeking to offer a signature flavour that becomes synonymous with their brand. This creative approach is exactly what you need if you’re looking to revamp your coffee table accessories collection.

Process: Involves roasting different beans to their optimal levels (light, medium, or dark) before blending.
Timing: Each bean type is roasted according to its specific requirements, such as stopping after the first crack for light roasts or continuing past the second crack for dark roasts.
Technique: Requires a detailed understanding of each bean’s characteristics and careful use of drum roasters to achieve a harmonious balance of flavours in the final blend.

Custom Roasts, Coffee Accessories, and More at 86 Coffee

Once you step into the world of coffee roasting, you’ll be greeted by a seamless mix of artistry, science, and expertise.

And if you’re ready to bring coffee roast masterpieces exactly the way you envision them, then a custom roast is the way to go. At Eighty Six Coffee in Calgary, we’re always ready to tweak our roasts accordingly. Our team adjusts roasts according to your feedback—and we won’t stop until we get it right.

With premium beans imported from all over the world, including Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Honduras, El Salvador, Kenya, Sumatra + Burundi, and Panama and the finest coffee maker accessories, you’re just a few steps away from serving art in a cup that every caffeine enthusiast would want on their radar.

Talk to us today to start roasting!

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86coffee - Coffee Experts

Chad has been working in the hospitality industry—cafes, restaurants, breweries, etc.—for 25 years before discovering his calling for coffee. For Chad, it’s all about being involved in the coffee-making process every step of the way to truly understand the craft. He aims to bridge the gap, especially in terms of bringing the best service to customers.

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