Light roast coffee, what is it?
Better yet, what is coffee?
The term coffee "bean" is used a lot, but in truth coffee is not a bean at all.
Coffee, is actually the seeds found within a cherry, these are harvested from trees. Infact our global farmer partners, do what is called hand harvesting, meaning they pick each cherry by hand, only when it's ripe; much as we do with apples here in New England.
Harvesting coffee like this is a slower and more tedious process, but it ensures that only ripe cherries are picked, removing un-ripe or even moldy fruit from the equation.
After these ripe cherries are picked, they are washed, sorted and processed by hand. All of the fruit remains are composted and used to improve the soil, and the seeds are washed again. They are then spread out on a clear dry surface to dry in the sun, while being turned over occasionally, using a specific type of rake.
Once fully dried, the seeds are washed again, to remove any unwanted residue. They are then dried indoors, in a clean space, then packed, sealed, and placed in burlap, ready to ship.
Premium coffee beans, such as these cost a lot more to acquire, but it supports global farming communities, while also ensuring a higher end and healthy bean.
For us, the members of the Fogbuster Family, this ensures we have the highest quality beans to Air Roasted into coffee perfection.
Ok, so we have discussed what coffee beans are, so what is a roast level?
A roast level is based on the temperatures used and for what duration, when "cooking" the "green beans" or un-roasted beans.
These choices or temperature, and roast time, will have huge a determination on the final product. The higher the temp and the longer the roast, the darker it will appear and the smokier the flavor with become.
Another change that will occur with roasting is the caffeine content. The longer you expose the beans to heat, the more caffeine is removed. This might sound a little backwards, as Very Dark Roast coffee can taste Very Strong, but it actually has less caffeine, as it's been cooked out a bit more.
So why don't we discuss Light Roast Coffee.
A light roast, as the earlier explanation might suggest, is a coffee bean that has been roasted at a lower temp, and perhaps for a shorter time.
Light roast coffees are higher in caffeine than dark roast coffees, while also offering a broader array of flavor nuance, due to not becoming overly "smoky" in flavor, through the roasting process.
As we source our beans from all over the planet, they all have differences in flavor and personality. This is where the intersection of premium, hand-picked, shade grown beans and our air roasting practices, really get wonderful.
Our air roasting process gently removes the thin outer casing of these beans as they are roasted, leaving opportunities for the clean, nuanced and subtle flavors to become much more forward. Honey, citrus, melon, floral accents, nuttiness, are among the thousands or notes to be found, in each mug.
Not to mention the hot air that our beans float upon, ensuring each bean is evenly and uniformly roasted producing a smooth, low acid, well balanced and rounded flavor.
We see coffee as a vehicle for positive change in ourselves and the world that surrounds us. We are truly passionate about what we do and why we do it. We appreciate our loyal customers and farmer partners more than we can express. Thank you for being part of this amazing journey.
may your LIFE be BREWED LOUD
Cheers
