Final answer:
Coffee roasts range from light to dark: Light Roast, Medium Roast, Medium-Dark Roast, and Dark Roast, with varying levels of oiliness and flavor intensity. The quality and fair trade status can influence bean price and preferences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Starting from the lightest roast to the darkest, coffee roasts can be categorized as follows:
- Light Roast - Often known for a light brown color, this roast has no oil on the surface of the beans and has the highest acidity.
- Medium Roast - This roast is medium brown with a stronger flavor compared to light roast, and still has no oil on the surface of the beans.
- Medium-Dark Roast - A rich, dark color with some oil on the surface, this roast has a slight bittersweet aftertaste.
- Dark Roast - Beans will be shiny black due to the oil and have a noticeable bitterness. The color is typically the darkest, sometimes almost black.
While preferences vary from person to person, the quality and price of the coffee bean can influence the choice of roast. Factors such as whether the coffee is fair trade can also be important to consumers.