light roast
noun
plural light roasts
: a coffee roast (see roast entry 2 sense 3) that is characterized by light brown coffee beans with a dry texture, high acidity, little bitterness, and high caffeine content and that is produced by roasting coffee beans at temperatures typically between 350-410°F (180-210°C)
Because subtle aromas and flavors have not been cooked out of the beans, light roasts will show individual notes like caramel, nuts, fruit, and cinnamon. Light roast also has a little more caffeine than medium and dark roasts.—
Lisa Kolb Ruland
Lisa Kolb RulandWhile many people enjoy light roasts, some feel that the flavor profile is too extreme. If you're going to enjoy a light roast, you'll want to pay even more attention to make sure you get a high-quality bean.—San Francisco Chronicle
compare dark roast, medium roast
San Francisco ChronicleExamples of light roast in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then there's Texans' roasting preference, which is a light roast.
—Hannah Ortega, Austin American-Statesman, 23 Jan. 2024
This lends a brighter, fruitier flavor that lets the raw ingredients shine (kind of like light roast versus dark roast roast coffee).
—Megan Wahn, Bon Appétit, 19 Sep. 2024
Sweetness is the light roast and is inspired by a grandmother’s hug.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 3 June 2024
There’s even a new coffee blend from Zeke’s Coffee — dark and light roast combined with hints of fruit and nuts — to mark the occasion.
—Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2024
The findings also indicated that light roast coffee had the highest antioxidant activity—contrary to other findings with dark roast coffee and antioxidant activity.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 29 Oct. 2023
The team also saw that dark roast coffees produce much finer particles than light roasts when ground at the same setting.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Dec. 2023
Types of light roast coffees include cinnamon, half city, and light city.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 29 Oct. 2023
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Hannah Ortega, Austin American-Statesman, 23 Jan. 2024
This lends a brighter, fruitier flavor that lets the raw ingredients shine (kind of like light roast versus dark roast roast coffee).
—Megan Wahn, Bon Appétit, 19 Sep. 2024
Sweetness is the light roast and is inspired by a grandmother’s hug.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 3 June 2024
There’s even a new coffee blend from Zeke’s Coffee — dark and light roast combined with hints of fruit and nuts — to mark the occasion.
—Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2024
The findings also indicated that light roast coffee had the highest antioxidant activity—contrary to other findings with dark roast coffee and antioxidant activity.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 29 Oct. 2023
The team also saw that dark roast coffees produce much finer particles than light roasts when ground at the same setting.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Dec. 2023
Types of light roast coffees include cinnamon, half city, and light city.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 29 Oct. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near light roast
Cite this Entry
“Light roast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/light%20roast. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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