Have you ever taken the time to ponder the distinctions between the various coffee roasts that you have with your morning cup?
Why are some coffee beans darker than others? What is the contrast between Italian and French roasts, both of which are the darkest coffees out there?
Both French and Italian roasting yield dark-colored beans, with Italian roasted beans reaching the darkest level. Italian roast is set apart by its burnt flavor. On the contrary, French roast has a sharp, ashy flavour. Their extended time in the roaster has resulted in both types of roast having low levels of caffeine and acidity.
In this article, the contrast between Italian and French roasted coffee is explained, including the procedure of roasting and their various taste characteristics. Continue reading to find out more information about these two different dark brewed coffees.
Are French Roasts and Italian Roasts the Same?
French roast and Italian roast are not the same. Italian roast coffee has a much darker hue than the other dark roast variety, almost appearing as black beans. French roast coffee beans are dark brown. Italian roast has a more potent taste, but they have the same amount of caffeine.
Some individuals highly esteem the inherent flavors of the coffee bean, while others favor their coffee pitch black, not worrying about its origin.
It is thought by a lot of people that the more intense the color of the coffee, the more powerful the taste is. However, that’s not necessarily true.
Understanding what qualifies a dark roast
Heavier roasts normally bring out a heartier taste, thus Italian roast would have a more intense flavor than French roast. No matter how dark the coffee bean is roasted, there will be less caffeine than if it were roasted more lightly.
In other words, because the cellular body of French and Italian roasted beans break down during the roasting process, they are lighter than medium and light roast beans, thus baristas must use more of the dark roast variety when making a batch of coffee.
The amount of caffeine in a cup of French or Italian roast coffee is approximately equivalent to the amount of caffeine in a light roast coffee.
In comparison to medium or light roasts, dark roasts are less acidic.
The coffee roasting process
It is essential to understand the mechanics of coffee bean roasting before continuing. This helps to better understand the differences between roasts.
All types of coffee beans, notably the two most popular, Arabica and Robusta, start out as green, as do their less common counterparts, Liberica and Excelsa.
The colour of the coffee beans alters during the roasting stage, beginning as a pale yellow and getting darker as the roasting continues, eventually turning to a light brown hue.
The internal temperature of around 385°F (196.11°C) causes coffee beans to make a cracking sound.
The noise made by the beans when they experience a lot of pressure from the heat is referred to by roasters as the “first crack”. As a result, the steam and carbon dioxide is released from the beans.
Roasters remove coffee beans just after they make a popping sound for light and some medium roast levels.
At about 435°F (223.88°C), the beans will give off a quieter “second crack,” should they continue to be roasted.
At this juncture, the oils inside the bean start to come out of the external covering.
The beans look larger than light-roasted coffee beans. The second crack produces darker roasts.
Heating dark roasts such as French and Italian roasts continues until there is a second crack or it goes beyond that. Italian roasts heat longer than French roasts.
Roasters should be particularly vigilant after the second crack occurs; otherwise, the beans may be reduced to ash.
If that is true, then these items are totally worthless as they easily crumble when touched. Roasters are incredibly vigilant while they are roasting.
How They Differ
Roasting Style and Duration
French Roast and Italian Roast are both recognized as being dark roast coffees. The coffee beans of both types of roasts are cooked at a higher temperature for an extended period to become deeper in color and secrete more oil. The French Roast is a form of coffee that is roasted at a high temperature until the second popping noise is heard in the beans.
In contrast, Italian roast coffee is exposed to a longer roasting process to achieve an intense, lively taste. Italian roast coffee requires a longer roasting duration than French roast coffee. One of the key differences between French roast and Italian roast is emphasized here. Only a small number of people are aware that the word “coffee” is a reference to the degree of its darkening through roasting.
Flavor
Both types of roasts have the same flavor profile of dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder. French Roast, though, is stronger and its body is more slender than Italian Roast. The flavor of a darker roasted coffee will be less sweet, yet it can still become quite addictive. French roast coffee also gives a robust taste of the coffee bean. Mixing dark roast coffee with something like heavy cream, foamy milk, or some other sweetener can make it much more enjoyable.
The flavor of lightly roasted coffee beans is intricate and has an exceptional body. The flavor of pineapple, berry, and citrus fruits alongside honey in a lightly roasted coffee is indescribable, with a hint of creaminess after adding milk. Summarizing, it will provide a totally authentic flavor.
Nutrition
The more roasted the coffee is, the fewer nutrients it has. Studies suggest that the longer coffee is roasted, the fewer nutrients it will contain as the Chlorogenic acid is burned off during the roasting process. Chlorogenic acid is thought to be beneficial to health, as it has the ability to guard against illnesses such as cancer.
Cooking influences the amount of caffeine that stays in the coffee. Therefore, choosing French Roast is an ideal way to energize yourself. So, the key differences between French Roast vs Italian Roast are:
Italian roast beans are cooked for a longer duration than French roast beans to bring out a bolder flavor and a darker shade of brown.
French Roast contains more antioxidants like chlorogenic acid and Caffeine than Italian Roast.
The flavor and aroma of Italian Roast are more intense than that of French Roast.
Why Are They Called French and Italian Roasts?
French and Italian roasts got their titles based on local preference. In France, the most popular type of coffee tends to be strong and intense, with a hefty amount of sugar added. In Italy, the beverage of choice is typically espresso, which is brewed using very dark roasted beans.
By the beginning of the 19th century, France had developed a fondness for excessively roasted coffee beans.
It is uncertain why the label for the dark roast coffee has survived.
It is interesting to note that even though France is renowned for its exquisite food, the majority of coffee used in French cafés is made from Robusta beans rather than the higher grade Arabica beans.
In Italy, especially in the south, individuals lean towards coffee with very dark roasts and smoky tastes.
Espresso is the go-to way to make coffee, which is typically roasted until it is dark.
A Brief History of French Roast vs Italian Roast
It is quite intriguing to find out the story behind French Roast. The origin of this coffee is an unsolved mystery until this day. Well, it’s a tragedy. It was only after French roast coffee became renowned across Europe and sailors began to charge a premium for it that we found out about it.
Explaining the origin of this coffee flavor in the United States, it had the aid of merchants. After a few months, people started to take notice of French roast coffee, and it has been highly regarded to this day in the United States and other countries.
In this instance, the source of the Italian Roast cannot be determined. It is impossible to cultivate coffee plants in Italy due to the local climate. Italian beans are not cultivated inside the country, yet they are still toasted in Italy. Back in the 1500s, it was Turkey that was known as the foremost source of coffee, and that was when the Italian roast flavor was invented (you can learn more about why Turkey is famous for its coffee production by clicking here). The Italian Roast exhibits the Middle Eastern impact in its powerful and full-bodied taste.
Afterwards, when Italy began to produce Italian Roast coffee, they combined beans from multiple countries to create the distinctive blend. Their objective was to make sure their Italian Roast coffee always had the same flavor, so they roasted it very dark, making it impossible to tell the difference. Let’s look into the coffee culture in both France and Italy, since these two types of roasts have been named after such countries.
All About the French Roast
We are frequently informed about middle roast, mild roast, and strong roast coffee. And these terms we can understand easily. But why do we call it French Roast Coffee?
If we simplify, the first thing that comes to mind (as discussed above) is that it must be of French origin. The roasting style originated in the 1800s in France. The name French Roast Coffee comes from the dark chocolate hue that the beans acquire after they have been roasted. The beans are typically darkly roasted, located at the far end of the roasting spectrum.
You have likely spotted the words ‘French Roasted Coffee’ on some packages of coffee. It is simpler than our usual coffee, yet it has a darker hue and a shinier appearance. It has a strong flavor. French roasted coffee is a very dark roast. Research regarding this reveals that it is the darkest roast around. It gained worldwide renown in the 19th century, far surpassing its fame in Europe. We only use the term today due to its deep and strong texture.
All About the Italian Roast
Enjoying an Italian Roast coffee in a café and making it at home will produce two very distinct flavors, both of which are delicious. Let us discuss specifically what Italian roast coffee is.
Italian roast coffee is regarded as one of the richest and deepest flavors, which is why it is known as the darkest coffee. It is frequently brewed as espresso. At first, Italian roast coffee is a single shade, but when exposed to warmth, it darkens over time.
A reaction called the Maillard Reaction occurs when the roasting process happens. During this reaction, amino acids and sugar react and create the distinct taste and dark color of Italian Roast. If you would like to learn more about the Maillard reaction, click on this link. The emphasis with Italian roast coffee is on the way it is roasted and not the type of coffee beans used.
The Taste Test: French Roast vs. Italian Roast
Both French and Italian coffees acquire their flavors from roasting the beans at a dark level. There are not many distinguishing features left after the beans have been roasted to a very dark level.
French roast offers an intense, vibrant flavor which is similar to the taste of dark chocolate or roasted nuts. Coffee fans who are familiar with the taste of coffee may be able to detect a few subtle undertones of the original beans, but not as much as with more lightly roasted beans.
The overwhelming feeling is one of bittersweetness with a hint of roasted and smoky taste.
It is thought by some that French roasting typically reveals lighter characteristics, such as a hint of citrus and a pleasant warmth.
It is fascinating that although Sumatra French roast coffees are roasted for a long time, there are people who state that they have flavor notes that can be described as earthy, spicy, and mossy.
Some people even claim that the flavor of this coffee is comparable to that of mushrooms.
Very dark roasts such as Italian roast can have a strong, unpleasant flavour, with much of the taste coming from a burnt flavour.
The extended period of roasting causes the fibers to be charred, resulting in an exceptional flavor.
There are hardly any of the bean’s original traits evident in the taste. The consistency of the drink is thin and the acidity level is low.
Conclusion
The New York Post has stated that most coffee aficionados (and laypeople) favor coffee that has been roasted to a medium level.
According to the Los Angeles Times, darker coffee blends are the top sellers.
No matter what type of coffee people enjoy, dark roasts are a constant staple in different areas, even if individual coffee bean taste can’t be distinguished.
Some people favor the intense, robust flavor generated by an extended roasting period compared to the brighter, flowery, and occasional sugary flavors of less dark-roasted coffee.