French Roast Versus Italian Roast - History, Flavor Profile, Purchasing Tips, And More
Robust, full-bodied, smoky, low acid, and intensely dark.
Robust, full-bodied, smoky, low acid, and intensely dark.
No, that’s not a glitch, and no, we didn’t nod off during the editing process.
The description(s) listed above are common words and phrases used to describe both French and Italian coffee roasts, so as you can imagine, these commonly identical descriptions can create quite the conundrum for coffee connoisseurs looking to choose between the two, seeking the perfect darkly roasted brew.
The fact is, both French and Italian roast coffees are indeed deeply dark roasted brews.
Actually, these two selections are some of the darkest roasts you can purchase. But, while they commonly receive similar descriptions, there are some unique distinctions in history, flavor, and intensity between the two.
That’s why we’d like to dive into the depths of these dark roasts, giving you a full view of each brew.
So go ahead, sit back, and enjoy some slow sips of your favorite cup of joe as we begin this dark, rich, and flavorful exploration!
French And Italian Roast History
When you see coffees listed as French roast or Italian roast, this doesn’t mean the beans you’re purchasing come from France or Italy.
In fact, the climate and topography of these European countries are in no way ideal for coffee growth.
Instead, such roasts are named in accordance with specific roasting techniques which can be traced back to these locales.
And this is why a brief history lesson is a valuable place to start as we examine the specifics of these brews…
French Roast Coffee
The name, or term, French roast coffee refers to a distinct style of roasting, a method which holds a bit of discrepancy regarding its origins.
Some say this roasting method was prevalent throughout all of Europe during the 19th century, while others insist this style of roasting definitively began in France, thus leading to the name we’re all familiar with - French roast coffee.
Either way, there are a few notable things specific to this time period that contributed to this roast’s beginnings.
First, during the 1800’s technology was limited, and roasting technique was therefore - well - a little rustic.
Then, many roasters also had a limited skill set, so they had little control over the temperatures at which coffee beans were roasted.
Couple this with the fact that most Europeans commonly enjoyed rich, dark brews, and you can see why most connoisseurs didn’t take issue with such rustic, nearly unregulated, roasting methods.
It wasn’t until the 20th century that this darkly roasted brew began to be commonly referred to as French roast, and it was during this time that methods (times and temps) were much more precise.
For French roasted brews, this means the beans are roasted beyond the second crack, referring to “the sound made by the coffee beans as they expand and crack under heat.”
More importantly, this also means the roasting temperatures hover around 450-455 degrees Fahrenheit to yield a very dark brown hued bean with a light sheen of oil.
The oils produced here are a result of the high roasting temps, as the heat causes the structure of the coffee beans to break down, becoming slightly porous, allowing the inner oils of the bean to escape.
It’s important to note that some are said to allow for temps as high as 465-470 with French roasts, but these would be considered outliers on this roasting spectrum, as higher temperatures are typically reserved for our French roast rival today…Italian roast.
Italian Roast Coffee
Italian roast coffee, like French roast, has nothing to do with where the coffee beans are grown, but again, refers to the methods involved in roasting.
Italy is often known for espresso, another deeply dark roasted brew characterized, most specifically, by a unique brewing method which uses a very dark roasted coffee, ground to a fine consistency, and prepared using pressure and heat.
This country’s love for espresso is commonly said to have contributed to the Italian roast name, as this roast is characterized by even hotter roasting temps than French roast coffee.
While French roasts top out at roughly 455 degrees Fahrenheit, Italian roasting temps classically surpass this mark.
By far exceeding roasting temperatures of 455 degrees, Italian roasted coffee also roasts beyond that “second crack” stage, yielding a bean that’s nearly black in color and coated with a noticeable shine due to the oils brought out from the high roasting temperatures.
Compared to French roasted coffee beans, as Italian roasts are heated at higher temperatures, the surface of the beans become even more porous, allowing more oils to release, causing a visibly oily appearance.
Ah, but what do these high roasting temperatures, for both French and Italian roast coffees, mean in regard to flavor?
French And Italian Roast Flavor Profiles
Each roast of coffee, from light, medium, dark, and beyond, has a unique flavor profile.
These flavors are not added, as in the case of flavored selections such as French vanilla, hazelnut, Highlander Grogg, peppermint mocha, or pumpkin spice.
Instead, these flavors either naturally occur in the coffee beans from the soil, climate, and neighboring plant life, etc. specific to where the beans are grown, or they occur due to the times and temperatures at which the green coffee beans are roasted.
So, what does this mean for French and Italian roasts?
As French roast temps peak at roughly 455 degrees Fahrenheit, these beans are, again, generally dark brown in color and have a characteristic light sheen of oil which coats them.
Due to these high roasting temperatures, the naturally occurring acids in the coffee beans, such as chlorogenic acid, are reduced, creating a brew that is low acid with a richer and smokier flavor than those brews which are roasted at lower temperatures.
Unlike lighter roasts which typically boast flavor profiles reminiscent of their respective growing regions, French roasted coffee flavor profiles only note those flavors created from the actual roasting process.
In fact, no matter the growing region, from Nicaragua to Cuba, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Africa, and beyond, any coffee roasted at such high temperatures will be entirely absent of those regional flavor notes, meaning the flavors you enjoy in your mug are almost entirely derived through heat.
You might also notice, when sipping a French roast, that your brew is slightly thinner in texture compared to lighter roasts.
Then, as companies wildly vary in their precise growing methods and roasting techniques, this can also contribute to differences in the overall flavor of the final product.
But generally speaking, French roasts possess any number of the following detectable tastes:
- Some may note slightly bitter or charcoal-like flavors in a French roast due to the high roasting temperatures, but most consider this roast to be less bitter than lighter roasts, even describing this brew’s flavor as bittersweet.
- Experts say that any good French roast will have a noticeably smoky, yet delightful flavor.
- Common heavy flavor notes of a typical French roast include tastes of bittersweet chocolate and cherries. Some also detail this roast as having a noticeably caramelized flavor.
- French roasted coffee is also characterized as a rich, bold, full-bodied brew, lacking the brightness and acidity of lighter roasts.
Now for Italian roast coffee…
As Italian roast coffee roasting temps exceed 455 degrees Fahrenheit, these beans, again, are going to be very, very dark in color, with some Italian roasts even being described as more black than brown.
And you certainly don’t need to be alarmed if you notice a significant amount of oil on these beans, as once again, the higher roasting temperatures cause the beans to be more porous, releasing oils which then cover the surface of the beans giving them a beautiful sheen.
Like French roasts, Italian roasted coffee beans commonly are described as having a smoky richness to them.
And, like French roasts, Italian roasts are also entirely void of any flavors specific to the coffee’s growing region, with this roasts’ flavor profile stemming entirely from the roasting process.
As Italian roast coffee roasting temperatures are hotter than French roasts, these can boast an even greater depth of smokiness, an even richer detection of caramelization, and an ultra-low acidity, the natural acids in the coffee beans having been released (almost entirely) during the high temperatures experienced in roasting.
As we noted with French roasts, the specific flavor profiles of Italian roasts also vary depending on the growing practices and precise roasting techniques incorporated by each individual company, but typically Italian roasts can possess any of the following detectable tastes or flavor notes:
- Italian roasts almost always have a very noticeable smoky or charcoal-like flavor.
- Some individuals enjoy using Italian roast coffee to make espresso as this brew, like espresso, is roasted under extreme temperatures. Both boast a deeply dark and very rich flavor and mouthfeel.
- Some have described Italian roast as “the burnt toast of coffee” as this brew has a near charred flavor.
- Whereas French roasts may sometimes be described as rich and bittersweet, Italian roasts can be listed as bold and pleasantly bitter.
- You may also find some Italian roasts that boast flavors of toasted nuts or bold dark chocolate.
- Like French roasts, Italian roasts are classically low acid brews which many folks prefer for optimal digestion.
- Then, don’t get me wrong here, I’m not likening the following in regard to specific or exact flavors, but Italian roasts can also be compared to the ‘burnt ends’ of the barbecue world. Where burnt ends are considered inedible to some, these overly barbecued/roasted sections of meat are near delicacies to others.
This is precisely how many view the charred, bold, flavors of Italian roast coffee. In other words, what is “too burnt” to some, is a near delicacy to others.
As for Lifeboost, while our dark roast isn’t specifically named a French or Italian roast, it is roasted at high temperatures similar to these classics.
These temps, combined with our clean, organic, single origin, shade and elevation grown specialty Arabica coffee beans, yield flavors similar to those we’ve mentioned above, most specifically mirroring the descriptions of a French roast, but also possessing some Italian roast characteristics.
For instance, Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee can be described as low acid, full or heavily bodied, slightly dry and sweet, with a rich, deeply dark, caramelized flavor and ultra-smooth aftertaste, allowing dark roast lovers to experience notes of both caramel and chocolate in this fan-favorite brew.
Then, some may classify our Espresso Coffee or Midnight Roast as a French or Italian roast as these brews are each bold, rich, deeply dark, and smoky due to higher roasting temperatures.
In fact, you may notice that our Midnight Roast Coffee is described as “French Roast” on the label, with this brew being roasted at those classically high temps to achieve a bold, smoky brew.
All in all, I liken these three Lifeboost brews as being on a boldly roasted spectrum. If French and Italian roasts are what you seek, these roasts bring those tastes in varying degrees, getting deeper, darker, and more rich, bold, and smoky as the brews progress in the following manner: Dark Roast, Espresso, and Midnight Roast.
French And Italian Roast Purchasing, Brewing, And More
Now that we’ve covered some history, roasting specifics, and flavor profile potentials for both French and Italian roast coffee, let’s conclude with a few things you can look for when purchasing these coffees, some brewing basics, and more.
The first thing to remember with French and Italian roasts is that, as we’ve established, these are indeed dark roast coffees.
So, if you’re ordering coffee from your favorite cafe, should you select a French or Italian roast, you can be certain this brew will be smokier, have a fuller body and smoother mouthfeel, a thinner texture, and potentially a bittersweet or caramelized flavor.
When it comes to brewing, you can certainly brew any French or Italian roast with a drip brewer as many choose to do, but if you want to truly bring out those natural oils, the richness of the brew, and the nuanced caramelization and chocolatey notes most often evidenced in these brews, the following methods are often recommended:
- A French press is commonly recommended for brewing French and Italian roasts as this method best highlights the richness of these coffees. (though French roasts are most recommended for this method)
Using a French press allows the ground coffee to steep for longer periods of time in the hot water, better extracting the rich flavors of the brew, as opposed to the quick brewing methods of a drip maker.
Typically, a coarse grind is recommended for brewing with a French press.
- Some folks enjoy using a moka pot for both French and Italian roasts as this method produces a strong, concentrated brew which dark roast connoisseurs commonly seek, just remember to use a fine grind with a moka pot.
- Italian roasts are commonly used when making espresso as both of these coffees are deeply dark, having been roasted at extreme temperatures.
Brewing with an espresso machine incorporates the elements of heat and pressure to extract the rich, bold flavors of the brew in a concentrated “cup.” Like a moka pot, remember to use a very fine grind when brewing with an espresso machine.
Now for a bit of fun before we close things out…
Besides sipping a rich, decadent cup of deeply dark roasted coffee, what are some other ways you can enjoy the bold flavors of a French or Italian roast?
As these roasts boast such deep, rich tastes, they make a great base for concocting delicious coffee ice cream!
Actually, when you’re making any sweet treat with coffee, items like ice cream, cakes, brownies, truffles, etc., the coffee flavor can easily be lost when combined with other necessary ingredients.
And as you’ll likely see in such recipes, typically the coffee component isn’t even added in great quantities.
So, if you really want a pronounced coffee flavor in such treats, a French or Italian roast can produce that delicious flavor you desire, combining with the other ingredients to bring you a balanced treat while also highlighting those java tastes.
Then, if you love lattes, frappes, coffee smoothies, coffee milkshakes, and other coffee-themed drinks, French and Italian roasts are the perfect addition to these treats!
Like espresso, these roasts can pack a punch. And, as with the ice creams and baked goods we mentioned above, using French and Italian roasts in such drinks means the coffee flavor won’t be hidden beneath the addition of various milks, creams, syrups, sauces, and other ingredients.
Then, aside from using these roasts in coffee treats, baked goods, and chilled desserts, these also make great dessert companions as the smoothness parallels sweet treats and the rich, bold, dark flavors complement most decadent desserts.
Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.
References:
- https://sfbaycoffee.com/blogs/articles/french-roast-coffee-a-complete-overview#
- https://volcanicacoffee.com/products/french-roast-coffee#
- https://lux-haus.net/blogs/coffee/what-is-italian-roast-coffee#
- https://colipsecoffee.com/blogs/coffee/italian-roast-coffee#
- https://sfbaycoffee.com/blogs/articles/italian-roast-vs-french-roast-how-do-they-differ#
- https://www.breville.com/us/en/blog/coffee-and-espresso/french-roast-vs-italian-roast.html#
- https://coffeebros.com/blogs/coffee/dont-buy-italian-roast-coffee-until-you-read-this#
- https://thecaptainscoffee.com/pages/roast-levels#
- https://us.moccamaster.com/blogs/blog/what-are-the-main-coffee-growing-regions-of-the-world?
- https://www.pinupcoffeeco.com/blogs/coffee-stories/why-is-coffee-oily#
- https://espro.com/blogs/coffee-talk/how-to-grind-coffee-for-every-coffee-maker#