Blond espresso refers to coffee beans that have been roasted using a light roast profile in contrast to regular espresso beans usually characterized by a dark roast profile.
A “blonde espresso” is a light-roasted coffee. Despite sounding strange, this type of coffee has become more popular in recent years. Light roast coffee uses beans that are roasted for a shorter amount of time than dark roast beans. This results in the coffee having less caffeine than dark roast coffee.
If you want a moderate amount of caffeine instead of a lot, try this drink. People are becoming more adventurous with their coffee choices and are trying new things, like blonde espressos.
This article will explore what gives blondes their unique coloration, so read on if you want to learn about them!
Blonde Espresso
What is blonde espresso, and why should you care about it? If you love coffee, you might want to learn more about it.
What exactly does this term refer to? What are the different types of espresso coffee available, and how can we identify them? What are the benefits of drinking blonde espresso as opposed to other types or blends that you might be more familiar with?
This coffee bean is less intense in flavor because it has not been roasted for as long. Many people compare the blonde espresso roast to other types of roasts, such as Light City and Full City roasts.
This light-medium roast coffee has more acidic notes and a lighter body. The Full City roast is slightly more intense and produces a darker, richer flavor. The similarity between blonde espresso and light city roasts could be argued, so it might depend on where you purchase your coffee.
The espresso roast that is blonde has a flavor which is a little bit sweeter, smoother, and more mellow because the roasting time is shorter.
Blonde espresso is becoming more popular because Starbucks has started serving it in their coffee shops. Although this type of coffee has plenty of fans, it also has just as many haters.
Different roasters have different preferences for roasting beans for blonde espresso and light city. I would advise you to try a few different roasters before deciding which one you like best.
The roasting process of blonde Espresso
In other words, during roasting, the raw bean changes color from green to brown. The Different Stages of a Bean When Heated There are certain stages that the bean is going through as heat is applied to it. The bean will first start to change color, then it will start to soften, and eventually it will burst. The whole process doesn’t last more than 10 minutes. The first stage is called the first crack.
The first sound of popcorn popping in coffee roasters is a crack. The second phase, or reaction, begins when the first cracks are over, and there’s still no smoke coming out. This is when people start to get really worried, and they start to scream and cry.
The beans will not appear to be heating up during this stage, they will only be around 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius).
The first crack is important because you want to stop roasting an espresso blonde at this point. The coffee beans will become darker and darker as they are roasted, eventually becoming a medium or dark roast.
Flavor profile of a Blonde Espresso
The coffee is blonde in color due to the lower coffee-to-water ratio and the lighter roast coffee beans used. A coffee made with a light roast and a lower coffee-to-water ratio will be lighter in color than one made with a dark roast and a higher coffee-to-water ratio. Blonde espressos have a high acidity, which gives them a sour taste. They also have strong fruity and floral flavors.
The acidity in this coffee comes from the beans being exposed to less heat during production, which gives it a less bitter taste than other dark roast coffees.
If you like fruitier and floral flavors in your coffee, the blonde roast is perfect for you. This roast is ideal for highlighting the coffee’s natural and understated flavors.
However, if you coffee with a bold and intense smokey flavor, the blonde espresso might seem too light and strange for you. There’s nothing wrong with experimenting, though!
The caffeine content of the blonde espresso
Many people think that coffee beans that are roasted longer contain more caffeine. But, unfortunately, that’s not the case!
The caffeine in coffee beans is not affected by the roasting process, unless the beans are roasted for too long, which turns them into charcoal. This means that the coffee will be too strong and bitter to drink.
So a blonde espresso has the same amount of caffeine as a regular dark-roasted espresso has. The latter tastes are more intense and bold.
Best practices to make a blonde espresso at home
You will be able to make a delicious blonde espresso at home by owning a portafilter espresso machine. You could make something similar to it with an automatic espresso machine that would give better results.
This machine produces the perfect cup of coffee because it uses the most pressure possible in the portafilter and the hot water goes straight through the compacted coffee grounds and into your cup, resulting in a beautiful crema.
Aside from the equipment you need, though, there are some best practices to brewing a blonde espresso:
- First off, make sure to purchase a blonde espresso roast; it should be on the label of the coffee bag
- Keep an eye on the roast date to make sure you are buying fresh coffee beans (no more than one month ago)
- Buy whole beans and grind them yourself if possible. The espresso grind is very fine so try to invest in a good electric grinder
- Use a recipe. I can’t stretch this one enough; you need to weigh your ground coffee in the portafilter to ensure you are using the correct amount; otherwise, your coffee might be watery or too sour.
- Last but not least, keep an eye on your brewing time! Espresso takes as little as 30 seconds to be ready, so leaving it longer or cutting it short will only make your coffee taste completely unbalanced.
There are certain flavors that go well with blonde espresso because the taste is different from other types of coffee.
A blonde espresso is a light roast coffee and goes well with milk and sweet flavors. You can also add a spiced syrup to it. A mocha made with blonde espresso is a coffee with a milder flavor and sweeter taste. The chocolate in the mocha balances out the sweetness and gives it a rich flavor.
Starbucks frequently offers flavors that go well together. For instance, a Blonde Vanilla Latte.
Remember that these drinks have a higher caffeine content than regular espresso – so don’t drink too many at once!
Regular Espresso vs Blonde Espresso
The difference between regular espresso and blonde espresso is the roast. Blonde espresso is roasted longer, resulting in a less intense flavor. Here are some of the key differences between these two types of espresso drinks:
Roast level
The main difference is in the roast of the coffee beans. A lighter roast will be roasted for a shorter time a lower temperature, whereas a darker roast will be roasted for a much longer time.
The term “blonde roast” used to be called “cinnamon roast” because the color of the coffee beans resembled the spice cinnamon. However, the name “cinnamon roast” didn’t become popular.
Color
The color of the blonde espresso is, well, blonde. Blond roasted coffees are pale in color, while dark coffee roasts have a shade or two darker color. You will be able to tell the difference between the physical coffee bean and how the coffee looks in your cup.
A light roast coffee bean will be smaller in size and have less oil on its surface, compared to a dark roast coffee bean which will be larger in size and have a shiny surface.
Caffeine level
A light roast coffee can actually have more caffeine than a dark roast because the roasting process breaks down some of the coffee’s caffeine, but a lighter roast will still have most of its original caffeine quantity.
A grande blonde espresso beverage from Starbucks has 360 milligrams of caffeine, which is less than their signature dark roast brew, which has 260 mg. If you are looking for an espresso option that is stronger, go for blonde espresso.
Taste
Lighter roasts produce coffee that is less bitter and has a sweeter flavor. Some people find the more subtle flavor profile of blonde espresso to be more palatable than regular espresso.
This is also relates to how strong the brew is. A blonde roast espresso is weaker in flavor than a dark or medium roast espresso.
Some people have described blonde espresso as “coffee for coffee haters” because it has a very mild flavor. There is some truth to the idea that if you love a strong cup of dark roast, you will find blonde espresso to be lacking in flavor.
Flavor profile
The taste of blonde espresso is distinctly different from that of regular espresso. Espresso that is blonde in color tastes lighter, sweeter, and less bitter than coffee that is dark in color.
The coffee bean’s flavor is more mellow when it is a light roast. The sugar and caramelized flavors are enhanced by the roasting process.
A medium roast espresso will have more body than a light roast, and will also have a darker flavor that is richer and has more complex tastes. The bolder flavor is often described as ‘smokey.’
Is Blonde Espresso just a Starbucks thing
While blonde espresso was first introduced by Starbucks, it can now be found in many other coffee shops as well. You can now find blonde espresso beans at many independent coffee shops, which is great news for those of us who like our coffee on the lighter side. Blonde espresso is becoming more and more popular, so it’s no surprise that it’s starting to show up in more places.
The coffee chain sells bags of Veranda Blonde Roast, a blend of South American coffee beans which tastes like chocolate and malt. Many supermarkets and coffee shops sell blonde coffee brews that can be made at home.
Additionally, any beverage that is typically brewed with a light, medium, or dark roast coffee bean can be made with a blonde roast bean.
If you want a less bitter and sweeter cup of coffee from Starbucks, you can ask for a blonde version. The Blonde espresso is the same price as the regular espresso, so it is definitely worth trying if you are a fan of light roast coffees.
Using coffee beans at home
To make a blonde espresso at home, you will need a coffee maker with an adjustable grind setting, or a separate grinder, and a filter that is suitable for espresso. If you have a French press or a drip coffee machine, you can use either of those.
Set your grinder to a fine grind for espresso machines.
For a French Press, you should use a coarser grind that is somewhere between the size of kosher salt and ground black pepper. A medium grind is best for drip coffee machines.
You should also keep in mind that the beans used for a blonde roast coffee may be more difficult to grind than beans used for a darker roast. If you grind your coffee beans manually, you will notice that they are thicker than if they were dark roasted.
To make the coffee, fill the filter with ground coffee and gently press it down. -If you have a French press, put the coffee grounds in the carafe. -If you’re using a drip machine, put the grounds in the filter basket.
To make espresso or drip coffee, fill your coffee maker’s water reservoir with filtered water and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific coffee brewing method. Place coffee in the French press and let it steep for four minutes before pressing down on the plunger.
Pour your coffee drink into a mug and enjoy!
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a coffee that’s not as bitter and has more sweetness, blonde espresso is a great choice. It also has a pretty hefty caffeine kick. This coffee is perfect for those who want to try light roast beans without making the switch to an entirely different type of coffee.
You can get blonde espresso at most Starbucks locations or make one at home easily. Grind your coffee to a medium-fine grind, and follow the instructions for your coffee maker.
Here’s how to make a delicious cup of blonde espresso: add in some creamy steamed milk, sweetener, and even a flavoring syrup.