French Roast Vs. Columbian Roast

Colombian roasted coffee refers to where the beans were roasted. French roast coffee refers to how the beans were roasted. Colombian coffee beans can be French roasted, but there are no French coffee beans to roast Colombian style.

Geography

Some coffee beans are grown in South American countries, like Colombia. Colombia roast coffee describes where the coffee comes from in this case. Coffee beans are not grown in France, so French roast coffee does not describe where the coffee is from.

Types

When roasting coffee, there are different types of roasts. The longest roast is called the French roast, which produces the darkest and strongest flavors.

Time Frame

French roasted coffee takes the longest to roast. Usually the beans are roasted up to 20 minutes, which makes the beans dark and oily.

Fun Fact

Since the beans are roasted so long during a French roast, the beans actually make a popping noise twice in the oven before they are done.

Misconceptions

American versions of French roasted coffee are much milder than European versions of French roasted coffee. Buying a Starbucks version of a French roast will taste much different than a French roast at a cafe in France.

References

• Coffee Detective