What Is Blonde Coffee?

By
Samanta Fryer
Samanta Fryer
Writer
Samanta Fryer is our senior editor and content writer, at CoffeeVibe. Apart from writing and reading, she’s fond of the coffee brewing process and enjoys tasting new coffe read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Ryan Hendricks
Ryan Hendricks
Expert
Ryan Hendricks is our tester, who puts products through their paces. He used to be a barista and is now a full-time coffee enthusiast. He’s always testing out new gadgets, read more
Last updated: August 28, 2023
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It seems the term “blonde roast” is everywhere these days and is increasingly popular. But if you’re someone who has wondered what a blonde roast coffee is, don’t worry, you’re not alone. It may seem like a new term, but the truth is blonde roast has been around for a while. Starbucks added a blonde roast to their menu in 2017, and many people adore it.
The blonde roast is even lighter than a light roast. Because of this, it doesn’t carry the bitterness that other, darker, roasts do, making it a perfect choice for many coffee drinkers. An understanding of what the blonde roast is can help you explore another drink that might appeal to you.

What is the origin of the blonde coffee beans?

What Is Blonde Coffee?Blonde roasts are called blonde because of the color of the beans and how they’re roasted. If you want to know what a blonde coffee at Starbucks is, then it’s advertised as being a mellower, less bitter coffee or espresso, which may make it a great choice for those who don’t drink a lot of coffee. It is a blend of Arabica beans from Latin America and East Africa. This matters because coffee beans, like wine grapes, can vary in taste depending on where they’re grown. If you’re trying to find the perfect coffee for your palate, remember to check the origin regions for your beans.

If you find a roast that you particularly enjoy, it could be because of the region, and you should experiment with more beans from the same region. It can help you find your perfect coffee drink.


Is the roast really that light?

What Is Blonde Coffee?Since it’s a “blonde” roast, many people wonder if that means that it’s lighter than a light roast. And the truth is, it depends on a brand. It absolutely can mean that it’s lighter than a light roast, but some places with a blonde roast are actually serving more of a light roast or even a medium, such as Starbucks. The good news is the caffeine level is the same regardless of the color of the roast. But the color does affect the taste, which is something to keep in mind.

A true blonde roast is lighter than a light roast, and because of that has a lot more acidity. It’s important to note that the roast level is determined by bean color, roasting temperature, and when and how many times the bean’s outer shell has cracked.


Taste

What Is Blonde Coffee?The biggest difference between blonde roast and any other roast is, of course, the taste. Blonde roasts, since they’re roasted at a lower temperature and for less time than a darker roast, have a lot more acidity in the flavor. This makes it taste brighter than a dark roast and have a lighter body. A blonde roast will often have more citrus and floral notes in its flavor profile. But, because it’s roasted at a lower temperature than a dark roast, a blonde roast will not have some of the typical flavor profiles of most coffees. High roasting temperature is needed to caramelize the sugars in the beans, which is what gives most coffees the caramel, buttery, and even sweeter notes. Because of this, some people really don’t like the blonde roast, but it may be a great choice for someone who doesn’t typically enjoy other coffee roasts.

Acidity

Blonde roasts are much more acidic than darker roasts. The acidity comes about because of the temperature the beans are roasted at, and it’s why blonde roasts are generally “brighter” in flavor. As the beans are roasted at a higher temperature, they lose their acidity, giving coffee its expected bitterness. Some people don’t care for the high acidity, and for others, it can actually be a health concern.

Acidity is measured on the pH scale. Dark roasts are high on the pH scale and are similar in pH to regular milk. But blonde roasts are low on the pH scale and rate closer to tomato juice, which is a large difference.

Some people don’t handle high acidity coffee well, so this is something to keep in mind if you’re trying to decide on a lighter or darker roast when ordering a drink.


How healthy is blonde coffee?

Blonde roasts come with a variety of health boons and negative effects, mostly because of the high acidity. Lowering your pH can affect everyone differently, but for some people, it can cause fatigue, muscle and joint pain, digestion issues, migraines, and other problems.

But the blonde coffee has health benefits as well since it comes with a lot of antioxidants, and there are some studies that show blonde roasts may have even more antioxidants than a dark roast. But it’s not necessarily better than a light roast, so if you’re worried about the acidity of a blonde roast, but want more antioxidants, it might be worth trying a light roast instead.

What is the best way to make blonde coffee?

What Is Blonde Coffee?It can be used as a regular coffee or espresso or even latte, depending on the tastes and preferences of the drinkers. If you’re wondering what a Starbucks blonde coffee is, check their menu for their variety of options.

A blonde roast coffee has so much more bright notes than a dark roast. We recommend you to experiment and try all brewing methods to find which you love the most.

Ending

Blonde roasts, while taking off in popularity mostly due to Starbucks introducing them to their permanent menu, have been around for years and offered an alternative to coffee drinkers. If you’re looking for brighter flavors, a lighter body, hints of citrus and floral notes, and don’t want any bitterness, a blonde roast might be for you! But while it will be missing the bitterness of a darker roast, it’ll also lose the sweetness and caramel notes, which other roasts have. And while the antioxidants may be great for your health, the lower pH can cause health concerns from fatigue to migraines. Either way, it seems as though blonde roasts are here to stay. So if you were wondering what a blonde roast coffee is, hopefully, this article has helped educate you.

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