Coffee Roasting: Discover the World of Coffee

Roasting: the coffee bean comes to life

The smell of coffee is indescribable. Intense and unmistakable, it greets us every morning. A good coffee is definitely the best way to start the day off right.

Before reaching our cup, our beloved coffee undergoes a process called roasting . This roasting process is what makes the coffee bean the fundamental element of our favorite beverage.

At Nannini, we believe that knowing the roasting process coffee beans undergo is a great way to savor our coffee even more intensely.

Did you know that before roasting, the coffee bean looks completely different from how we're used to seeing it? Yes, it's the roasting process that turns it brown and ready to be transformed into coffee.

This process makes green coffee edible, a spongy, hard seed that bears no resemblance to a traditional coffee bean. Through this process, the coffee acquires its own aromatic and sensory profile, releasing its intense and unmistakable aromas.

Did you also know that there are different types of coffee roasting ? Depending on the temperature, we can obtain coffee beans with different flavors and aromas. Now you have no more excuses for not knowing everything about the world of coffee, so let's take a closer look at the roasting process.

What happens with roasting?

Essentially, roasting involves roasting coffee beans at high temperatures, increasing the cooking time and temperature, depending on their specific profiles. The coffee beans undergo a metamorphosis, changing their color and volume. They lose moisture and gain weight, acquiring the aroma and unmistakable shape we know today.

Depending on the chosen temperature, you will get different beans, with different flavors and aromas. To simplify, roasting can be divided into 3 main types: light , medium , and dark .

Light roasting occurs in the early stages of the process, up to the stage known as the first crack. This distinctive name derives from the sound (similar to the popping of popcorn) that the coffee beans make once the steam has penetrated their internal walls, causing them to create the characteristic central crack. The resulting bean is light brown in color and has a flavor reminiscent of roasted grain. It is also characterized by strong acidity and a high caffeine content.

Medium roast, on the other hand, occurs between the first crack and the second crack stages. The temperature is higher than in light roasts, and as a result, the beans produced are a slightly darker shade of brown than the first crack and larger in size. Acidity is lower, but still noticeable. Overall, there's a better balance between acidity, flavor, and aroma .

Dark roasting is done at higher temperatures, and the bean is dark brown , almost black. The main characteristic of beans obtained from this roasting is their intense bitter flavor , without any acidic notes.

Now that you know more about the world of coffee and roasting, enjoy the taste of Nannini coffee in the comfort of your own home or stop by one of our cafés where we'll prepare an intense espresso for you.