If you’ve ever worked as a barista or studied coffee brewing techniques, you’ll be familiar with the different roasting levels of coffee. Based on the level of maturity, these levels are divided into three: light, medium, and dark roast.
The dark roast level will usually produce a more complex and rich coffee beverage, but it tastes bitterer. Light roast, on the other hand, generally gives a softer and sweeter flavor.
If you are someone who prefers dark roast coffee, you should also know what are the best coffee beans for dark roast. With the proper selection of beans, your brewed coffee will take your coffee experience to the next level!
As an introduction, we should talk about what dark roast coffee is, the characteristics of the best beans, and how to make the most delicious dark roast coffee at home.
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What Is Dark Roast Coffee?
Dark roast coffee is defined as coffee beans that are roasted at high temperatures, even until they are fully cooked. Its appearance is usually dark brown, and it’s not uncommon to have a slightly oily surface.
Thanks to the long roasting process, especially at high temperatures between 225-240°C, dark roast coffee tends to have a bold and smoky flavor.
Quite often, some of them have a slight chocolate note and taste sweet, thanks to the caramelization process of the natural sugars contained in the coffee beans. Even so, the original characteristics of the coffee beans will be less intense.
Some Characteristics of the Best Dark Roast Coffee
Several main characteristics of dark roast coffee make it loved by many people, especially for coffee lovers with bold and intense flavors. Let’s explore them one by one.
1. Thick Texture
The main characteristic of dark roast coffee is its thick texture. The intense and long roasting process is what turns your coffee beans into a denser and oilier texture.
Also read: Why Are Some Coffee Beans Oily: Are Oily Coffee Beans Bad?
2. Intense Flavor
Next, dark roast coffee beans are known for their very intense flavor. According to a bit of science, this flavor occurs due to the Maillard reaction, which is the process of heating carbohydrates with proteins. From this process, a new organic compound will emerge that has a pretty bold aroma.
3. Strong Aroma
Apart from the flavor, dark roast coffee also has a strong and complex aroma. When inhaled, it may remind you of the scent of firewood, nuts, and spices. Of course, this aroma can be the main attraction that captures the hearts of coffee lovers.
4. Low Caffeine Content
Although the flavor tends to be strong, the caffeine content of dark roast coffee generally tends to be low if we compare it to light roast.
This is due to the coffee’s roasting process. The longer the roasting process, the more caffeine in the beans is broken down.
The Best Coffee Beans for Dark Roast in the World
The best dark roast coffee in the world comes from the best coffee beans. Do you agree with this statement?
Only some coffee beans are suitable to be processed into dark roast coffee. Of course, this cannot be separated from the consideration: can its main characteristics support a bold and intense coffee flavor?
So, which coffee bean is best for dark roast? Here are some of the best green coffee beans for dark roast that you can consider.
1. Colombian Supremo
Colombian Supremo is known for its prestige as one of the coffee beans suitable for dark roast coffee. Moreover, this coffee is imported from Colombia, one of the best coffee-producing countries!
This coffee has some interesting characteristics, namely that the flavor is quite balanced between the bitterness of the coffee with the sweetness of a slight touch of natural chocolate. When roasted to a dark roast, these beans are able to produce bold and rich coffee drinks.
2. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is a coffee bean with a floral aroma and fruity flavor, which is quite attractive compared to other options.
When processed using the dark roast technique, this type of coffee will produce a complex-tasting beverage with an abundant mix of flavors, such as dark chocolate and spices.
3. Tanzania Peaberry
This coffee bean is considered a rare and expensive coffee because each tree only produces one bean with a unique flavor. When roasted to the dark roast stage, the flavor is quite sharp and smoky but still retains its fruity taste.
4. Sumatra Mandheling
Next up is the most famous coffee bean in Indonesia. Imported from one of the best coffee-producing regions, Sumatra Mandheling is unique in that it has a thick body, earthy flavor, and a slightly herbal aftertaste.
The roasting process up to the dark roast stage enhances these flavor characteristics. Hence, this type of coffee is perfect for bold coffee lovers!
5. Guatemala Antigua
The last of the best coffee beans for dark roast in the world is Guatemala Antigua. Its balanced taste offers a sweet aftertaste resembling chocolate and savory spices.
When dark roasted, this type of coffee bean will give off an aroma similar to dark chocolate. The flavor is smooth, but still complex.
How to Choose The Best Coffee Beans for Dark Roast
In addition to knowing which beans are best suited for dark roast, you also need to choose the one that best suits your preferences and palate. So that you can produce coffee with the right flavor, let’s see what factors to consider:
1. The Taste That You Want
Generally, beans roasted in the dark roast stage will have a distinctive flavor that is smoky and bold. However, you can undoubtedly use variations of sure beans to produce unique flavors.
For example, use Ethiopian beans for a fruity dark roast. Then, you can also choose Sumatran beans for coffee with an intense earthy aftertaste. Customize it again according to your taste.
Also read: Improving Coffee Taste: Techniques, Benefits, and Strategies
2. The Caffeine Level That You Need
Since the caffeine level of dark roast tends to be low, you have to use certain types of beans to produce a dark roast that is high in caffeine. An example would be Robusta coffee, with relatively high caffeine levels.
3. Date of the Roast
Finally, be sure to monitor the quality and freshness of the coffee beans selected. For the best dark roast, choose freshly roasted beans. This coffee should also be finished within 2-4 weeks so that the flavor doesn’t change.
What Brewing Method is Best for Dark Roast Coffee?
Now that you know how to choose the best green coffee beans for dark roast, it’s time to get to see the preparation stage. Here are some prevalent brewing methods to produce delicious dark roast coffee.
1. French Press
This classic brewing method works. You need to pour the coffee grounds into a glass or stainless steel container. After pouring hot water into it, wait for 4-5 minutes.
Finally, press the plunger to separate the grounds from the coffee liquid that is ready to be served. With this method, you will produce dark roast coffee that is rich in flavor and thick in texture.
2. Espresso Machine
Next, you can also use an espresso machine. Generally, this machine is suitable for extracting coffee optimally.
Although the process is fast, you can still produce creamy coffee with an intense flavor. In fact, this dark roast coffee can be made into espresso shots or processed into lattes and cappuccinos.
3. Pour-over
Do you want a well-balanced coffee? Or want to reduce the smoky flavor of your coffee? The pour-over method is the perfect solution. All you have to do is manually pour hot water directly over the filtered coffee grounds.
How to Make the Best Dark Roast Coffee?
How to make dark roast coffee taste better? To produce delicious dark roast coffee, understand how to grind and brew coffee properly. It’s easy, so follow this guide!
1. Use Water at the Right Temperature
For optimal coffee extraction, you should use water with a temperature level between 90-96°C. Without the right temperature, the resulting dark roast coffee may taste more bitter or even less bold.
When heating the water, measure the temperature with a thermometer. After that, leave it for 30 minutes before using it.
2. Proper Grinding
The type of coffee mill you use also affects the extraction process and the outcome of your coffee. When you want to use the French Press method, you should use a medium to coarse grind.
On the other hand, if you want to process dark roast coffee with an espresso machine, grind the coffee with a relatively fine grind.
3. The Right Coffee to Water Ratio
For your dark roast to have a balanced flavor, consider using a 1:15 ratio (1 gram of coffee for every 15 ml of water). What if you prefer a bold coffee? Switch up the ratio. For precise measurements, weigh the ingredients first.
4. Choose Quality Coffee Beans
As mentioned earlier, it’s best to use some of the best coffee beans for dark roast. You can choose Sumatra Mandheling or Colombian Supremo for coffee that tastes bold and complex. To preserve the freshness, make sure to use them in their whole bean form before grinding.
5. Pay Attention to Brew Time
Adjust the brewing time according to the method you want to use. For French Press, it is better to brew coffee for 4-5 minutes.
As for the espresso method, the extraction time tends to be faster, which is only 25-30 seconds. Drain the coffee immediately after brewing so that the taste is not too bitter.
6. Use Clean Tools
We’re sure you prefer the taste of coffee that’s clean and free of contamination from previous brews. For this reason, it’s best to clean your coffee brewing equipment regularly so that you can always serve coffee with a consistent taste.
7. Add Finishing Touches to Taste
How to make dark roast coffee taste better? It’s easy; you can add a little condiment in the form of milk, sugar, or caramel syrup. Just make sure the amount is enough. Excessive condiments will mask the natural flavors of the shelf roast.
Where To Find The Best Coffee Beans for Dark Roast?
Look for the best coffee beans for dark roast from a trusted coffee supplier. However, if you want to try Sumatra Mandheling coffee beans, you can quickly get them at FnB Coffee!
FnB Coffee is one of the best suppliers of Indonesian coffee beans from Sumatra, Indonesia. Here, we provide a variety of quality local coffee beans, one of which is Sumatra Mandheling.
Do you still need to decide which type of coffee is suitable according to your taste? You can contact our team or check out some of our best-sellers.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your premium Indonesian coffee now from FnB Coffee for the best dark roast drinking experience!
