Light espresso - is that even a thing?

Lighter roasts often make better tasting espressos. Doubly true for decaf beans. Dark roast isn't the only game in town.

Yeah dark vs light roast is a different taste, suited to different beans. Personally I don't much care for light roasted beans in espresso but that's fine, taste is personal.

The coffee chains and decent independents now have different roasts that you can have in espresso form, give them a try if you're in one.

In my simple world “espresso” means “roast the **** out of it”

Usually, but that's just a style thing. You can make an espresso shot from any beans. Espresso is associated with Italy and they usually have dark roasts and usually have espresso. I did read somewhere that this is because there is a maximum price for espresso in Italy, which forces them to use cheaper beans and the dark roast helps disguise that, but I don't know if that's true or not.

Interested.
So any recommendations for a lighter roasted bean?
Also, what decaffeinated beans to feed my afternoon addiction?

Generally using Aeropress but hoping to get machine in next week or so. Burr grinder bought a few months ago and used constantly!

Espresso is the name of the production process (like new mothers 'express' milk).

What level of roast is used for the bean is an entirely separate thing. The chains tend to use roasted to **** beans as it means they get a consistency of (rubbish) taste that doesn't really get noticed if you drown it in a bucket of milk and syrups, but a lighter roast as a pure espresso drink can definitely be a lot more flavourful and interesting.

(another one with a simple palate. I can tell there *is* a difference, but don't ask me to describe it!)

Also, what decaffeinated beans to feed my afternoon addiction?

Rave do a good job of decaf beans, as do Lavazza. Not burnt like a lot of decaf beans struggling to taste of something. I mix 50:50 with caff beens though, all morning. Works far better for me than caff followed by decaf. These days I just avoid coffee in the afternoon unless on holiday.

I don't make espresso at home, but do have a Pact subscription and grind beans for Aeropress and pour over.  After years of coffee drinking I have only recently discovered that I prefer lighter roasts. I used to associate the almost burnt taste of some very dark roasts with strength and flavour, but now prefer more subtle fruit and acidic flavours which seem to be masked by dark roasting.

Most Pact roasts are on the darker side, but I have really enjoyed the medium and light roasts they have sent me and now choose these. Chebumba and Remera Peaberry have been recent favourites.  I've got some Vista Hermosa for my next order which is a medium roast.

I'm always open to suggestions for other roasters who have a better selection of lighter roasts.

Just remember light/blonde coffees are roughly the same caffeine so don't be thinking that light espresso is good for cutting down on the caffeine! (Actually lighter roasts tend to have slightly more caffeine but Im not sure its enough to really notice).

My preference is lighter roasts for espresso and dark roasts for milky coffees.

@blokeuptheroad - are you sure you aren't me? I could have written exactly that!! I'd also like to hear of sources of better selection of light roasts - Pact have been very poor lately.

I can highly recommend the "Decaf Buenos Aires" beans from Pact. It's probably my absolute all-time favourite which is impressive considering it's a decaf!

I pull a regular shot of around 19g in and 36ish out then top up with a small amount of hot water. It tastes lovely as a straight expresso but I like my drinks to last a tad longer and the flavours really punch out when the cup begins to cool a little.

It has a lot of dark fruitiness going on (I'm not very creative with my description...) sometimes I wonder if I am even drinking coffee! Definitely a treat in a cup although being decaf means you can hammer it all day long which will cost ££!

Agree with the above. Buy different beans from different roasters and see what floats your boat. I alternate between my local roaster's espresso blends and trying stuff (usually medium/lighter roasts) from anywhere and everywhere. Personally I think a lot is just over-roasted and tastes like ash tray juice (from chains, mostly) - I drink tea in those places. It's like there's light, medium, dark and then about 5 levels further on are beans turned to charcoal from Starbucks.

But there are so many independent roasters around now, and I don't think I've regretted trying anyone. My local is Crankhouse (Exeter, great beans, engaging chap and a keen cyclist), but there are dozens and whoever you ask will have a different list because there are so many good ones IME.

I’d also like to hear of sources of better selection of light roasts – Pact have been very poor lately.

Shame. I haven't tried Pact for years but had good coffee from them.

Another I like is Foundry in Sheffield. Although thinking about it I haven't ordered from them for a while either. If I'm away from home I'll often buy a bag of beans from somewhere local. So being in Northants regularly that's Yellow Bourbon, which I also like a lot actually.

I quite enjoyed the yellow bourbon espresso roast, I was expecting too dark for my liking but it wasn't too bitter.

I'm currently on a bag of light roast Chinese beans from Rave. I tend to prefer lighter roasts but generally mix it up a fair bit.

I find I tend to like medium roast espresso as well. Is it more of a UK thing? Don't seem to get it abroad in the same way. I like origin coffee for my beans, reasonably priced and tasty

I drink “medium” roasted beans in flat whites - pretty much any good quality, “third wave”/artisan beans can translate into really great shots if you’ve got everything dialled-in well.

Most beans in supermarkets are darker roasts, as this extends the shelf life.

One thing I’ve noticed is that flat burr grinders are better for lighter roasts, and conical grinders are better for the richer flavours of medium roasts. Sounds like snobbery, but it’s not - the difference is very obvious

The difference between first crack and full city is vast!

Butterworth and sons do a great range of decaff.

Extract half speed was recommended on here and is a great 50:50 with beans from the same grower I think.

Square mile for light roasts, or your local 'artisnal' roaster. I say that half tongue in cheek as I bought some beans from a local coffee shop a while back that were clearly doing it for the money as their coffee was awful.

For off the shelf stuff, Lavazza Black is less strong and far nicer tasting than the Red (maybe counter intuitive if you expect black = dark/strong)

My preference is lighter roasts for espresso and dark roasts for milky coffees.

Me too. I used to like the "macho" approach of dark roast, bitter espresso but now prefer lighter roasts with a bit more going on.

Not cheap, but I adore Darkwoods Arboretum for espresso. I prefer it delivered at a lower temperature and with a little bit more water - almost approaching a lungo.

We’ve got a nice decaf on the go from Squaremile at the moment. They tend to be on the lighter side of things. I too prefer light for espresso and medium for Milk based drinks.

Hi
As above, most small roasters go light so they would be my first port of call. Most supermarket beans will be dark roast. GHill mentioned Darkwoods above, they are excellent, under milk wood being my favourte. I usually buy from Ancoats, any of theirs are good. The rwandan one at the moment is great.