Blonde roasted coffee is a term that has been around since 2017 and is becoming increasingly popular. Not really understand what it is, although you are this beverage fan? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. The truth is unless you are a knowledgeable person in the drink world, it will be difficult for you to understand this name.
However, if you are a coffee connoisseur or business, you should learn about this term right away. Because it seems that this variant is gradually becoming a new trend, just the same way that Starbucks’ “Macchiato” became popular worldwide.
So, what is blonde roast coffee? Is it really as delicious as the reviews? Let’s dig into this!
What Is Blonde Roast Coffee?
As mentioned above, this version is a definition that not everyone knows, although it is gradually becoming popular. Let’s learn a little bit about this special type’s definition, origin, and making process!
Simple Explanation
It is roasted beans with a lighter color than normal ones. More specifically, this roasting method will cook the beans at shorter times and temperatures than usual.
In theory, this method will help the beans taste better because simply baking at a low temperature for a short period makes the roasting smell in coffee lighter. Thanks to that, the smell will be clearer, a big step for coffeeholic.
As a result, you can easily discern the quality of the beans with just a click of your lips. This is understandable because dark roasting can make the roasted smell drown out the aroma of your beverage after finishing brewing. In contrast, this specific type will not present an overwhelming roasted taste.
Origin
This is a term that was first introduced by a Starbucks menu in 2017 in the US and became popular in January 2018. Since then, the term has become more and more popular worldwide.
However, it has been around for much longer than that. Previously, this type of seed existed under the name “roasted cinnamon”. This name makes it difficult for users to imagine the difference between this nut and the usual Starbucks cinnamon flavor.
Realizing the problem with the name, Starbucks’ marketing team changed the name from “roasted cinnamon” to “Blonde roast”.
In addition to the two names mentioned above, people also know this bean with names like New England roast, light city, etc. These names show that this roasting style is lighter than the normal style.
The Making Process
Such beans are usually roasted at temperatures between 355 degrees Fahrenheit and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. They will be continuously roasted in a special machine until the first crack appears on them (usually 10 minutes after roasting). Meanwhile, the medium and dark roasts process will only end after the second and third cracks appear.
This crack appears because the increased temperature removes all the water vapor in the grain. Simultaneously several chemical and physical reactions change the taste and aroma of the peas from green to pale blonde brown.
After this, the bean will decrease in volume but increase in size. The longer the roasting, the larger the size, but the less the weight and the consistency of each grain will therefore also reduce noticeably.
What Made Blonde Roast Coffee So Special?
It is clear that this variant has many differences from regular brown beans. So what exactly is this difference? What does it taste like?
Taste
Roasting the beans just before or when they first crack can make a lot of difference in flavor. Though they originate from the same bean, the way they are roasted gives them differences in acidity. Specifically, the amount of acid in lightly roasted beans is higher than in dark roasted ones.
Moreover, the taste of well-roasted ones often has a very strong sugar or caramel butter aroma, while the smell of blonde roast ones is quite mild. Experts explain that the acid tones have not been roasted long enough to convert to sugar. Many people also commented that the golden roasted types have a bar, fruity and floral flavor.
In summary, the difference in flavor comes mainly from the acidity content. Some people may prefer the natural smell of the beans, while others prefer the caramel flavor.
Caffeine
A cup of blonde coffee usually has a higher caffeine content than a cup of conventionally roasted one. Some people say that the difference between these two is up to about 10mg (in the case of the same volume).
However, contrary to what many people think, roasting different types of coffee does not make the caffeine content in these beans disappear. In other words, a blonde roast bean has the same amount of caffeine as a medium and dark-roasted one. So, why does a cup of this variant have more caffeine than a cup of dark roasted one?
This is simply because these beans are smaller in size. Therefore, a scoop to make a cup will contain more beans than any other type, resulting in more caffeine content.
Good For Your Health
Like other versions, blonde coffee is also good for the drinker’s health if used in moderation and with a plan. It is generally no different from other types in terms of nutrition and caffeine, but just being roasted lighter.
Here are some benefits of drinking it: Supports weight loss, provides energy, enhances intelligence, improves physical activity, provides necessary nutrition for the body, protects the liver, reduces the risk of cancer, and even increases life expectancy. Hence, do not be afraid to drink it regularly!
In addition, this type has a unique healthy feature: “coffee silverskin”. This is the outermost layer of the bean. It has high antioxidant properties, thus improving the drinker’s immune system.
Acidity
On a pH scale from 0 to 14, with 0 being the highest acidity and 14 being the lowest. Blonde roast beans have an acidity of around 4.5, while medium and dark ones will be at 5.4 and 5.9.
In other words, this specific type has the same acidity as the tomato. Thus, it has a high vitamin C content, so people who have excess vitamin C should not drink this as it can cause kidney stones, gout, stomach ulcers, etc.
As mentioned above, the high acid content is unavoidable because of the lower roasting time and temperature. Before ordering such beverages, you should consider this issue to avoid affecting your health.
The Best Way To Make Blonde Roast Coffee?
It is undeniable that sipping a cup of Joe every morning is a great way to start a day. Especially when you can enjoy it alongside your delicious breakfast at home. Starting to get excited? Here is a guide on how to make this Starbuck drink at home. Give it a try!
First, choose a reasonable grind. If you prefer strong cups of Joe (especially Espresso), you should choose the best grind possible.
Remember that a cup of Joe usually needs to contain about 8 ounces of water, neither too much nor too little. So, prepare about 2.5 tablespoons of freshly ground blonde roast coffee.
Then, use a machine to brew it. This way, you’re preserving its best flavor. Not complicated at all, right?
FAQs Of What Is Blonde Roast Coffee
Here are a few frequently asked questions about blonde roast cups. See if you have the same questions as most of the others!
1. Does Blonde Roast Taste Bitter?
Absolutely not! This type of beverage is considered to have a mildly sour taste, slightly sweet with fruit flavors and floral directions.
Read more: Why is my coffee bitter
2. Is Blonde Roast Good For Our Health?
This roasting method has the same nutritional and caffeine content as other types in the same family. It also provides vitamin C and improves the immune system. However, if used too often, it can still negatively affect health.
3. How Acidic Is Blonde Roast?
The acidity in it is about 4.5. Or you can say its acidity is about the same as a cup of pressed tomatoes. You can understand more simply that the pH of this beverage is less than medium and dark ones at 0.9 and 1.4 points, respectively.
Conclusion
Drinking this type of beverage can give us several benefits. It has an outstanding delicious taste and can enhance the drinker’s health.
In addition, the way to create and prepare it is also quite simple. From the above information, we can see that this drink will soon become more and more popular and display a global trend in the future.
Here is all the information about this wonderful coffee type. Hope you have answered the question “what is blonde roast coffee” after completing the reading. Have a nice day, and don’t forget to try this cup of Joe as soon as possible!
Almost 20 years already spent committed to coffee and more than 3 years of experience as a barista at Starbucks. Madelyn Doyle graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Science from the University of California and finished the Coffee Skills Program at the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).