Best Light Roast Coffee | 5 Mouthwatering Selections
Today I’m going to be covering some of the best light roast coffee that is perfect for those wanting a less full-bodied caffeinated drink!
If you’re getting sick and tired of that heavy feeling of coffee on your taste buds and also have lost your enthusiasm for a strong tasting black coffee or espresso, then it is time for a switch to light roast.
Light roast coffee will leave behind a much sweeter and tangy taste in your mouth, as opposed to dark roast which often gives us notes of charring or dark chocolate tones.
It has many benefits contained within it, such as more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which may help reduce some symptoms that are often developed when having dark roast for years on end.
In this article, I’ll be going over the top pick light roast coffee you should be having, as well as 4 other decent picks that I recommend. If you’re uncertain about what light roast coffee is, then we have you covered with our full-on buyer’s guide and frequently asked questions.
So let’s dive right in and go over the best light roast coffee you should be having right now!An Overview of Our Top 5 Picks for Good Light Roast Coffee
- Lifeboost Light roast coffee
- Kicking Horse Coffee, Hola, Light Roast, Ground, 10 ozÂ
- New England Coffee Donut Shop Blend Light Roast Ground Coffee, 11oz Bag (Pack of 1)Â
- Real Good Coffee Co - Whole Bean Coffee - 2 Pound Bag - Breakfast Blend Light Roast Coffee - Fresh Coffee Beans Roasted and Ground in Seattle, WA -100% Arabica Coffee Beans - Flavored Coffee BeansÂ
- AmazonFresh Just Bright Whole Bean Coffee, Light Roast, 32 Ounce (Pack of 1)Â
Top Pick: Best Light Roast Coffee is LifeBoost Light Roast Coffee
Editors Rating :Â
Want a light roast coffee that tastes wonderful without those nasty acids that cause inflammation?Â
LifeBoost light roast coffee is our top pick for just that!
Our top pick is this amazing light roast coffee by LifeBoost! Lightly roasted so that you can enjoy coffee, that tastes great without all those nasty chemicals that cause inflammation.
Read our full description below of why we think this is the top light roast coffee!
#1 - LifeBoost Light Roast Coffee
Some light roast coffees can be more acidic than others, but Lifeboost light roast coffee keeps in mind to reduce acids which can cause inflammation.
These premium coffee beans have been roasted in such a way to produce a brighter tasting coffee, that is slightly acidic and allows you to taste the flavor notes really well.
The beans are cultivated by local farmers, with fair trade in mind, and are hand picked on at a time to provide the most premium tasting blends you can imagine.
With this roast you'll experience tasting notes of a classic nutty profile, enhanced with the sweetness of caramel.
What we liked about thisÂ
The biggest thing that made this my top pick was that it is delicious coffee, that is essentially chemical and toxin free! Besides that LifeBoost essentially produces fair trade coffee of the utmost quality and I recommend this to all!
What we disliked about this
Besides having some high quality premium coffee beans in a fantastic light roast, the only thing we disliked about these is that it can be quite expensive for some!
So if your budget allows, then we definitely recommend getting this roast by Lifeboost coffee
Recommended Article: The Best Coffee Canisters to Keep Coffee Fresh
#2 - Kicking Horse Ground Coffee Hola Light Roast
- TASTING NOTES: Juicy red currant acidity paired with a creamy honey body.
- LIGHT ROAST: Wild, spirited, awake. This blend knows how to dish up a warm welcome. It's a hot tropical storm, sailing in off the sea. Hullo good mornings!
- ROASTED IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS: It’s all deep, dark and delicious, roasted right below the towering Canadian Rocky Mountain peaks. In our facility we only make only one thing: coffee! It's roasted from one ingredient only: green coffee. We don't use preservatives, additives, fillers or flavoring.
- AROMA: Brown sugar, rich nougat, cocoa powder.
Kicking horse Hola light roast coffee is another certified organic light roast we recommend. Coming in ground coffee, this blend will make your mornings energized with it's wild and spirited tastes.
You can expect to experience tasting notes of juicy red currant acidity, paired with a lovely honey body which will be evident when brewing with a drip machine or pour over coffee maker.
These beans come straight from the central of south America and have been grown in a way that makes a farmers business sustainable.
What we lived about this
Kicking horse coffee produces some amazing roast that leads to some great tasting coffee that is not bitter, and smooth and easy to drink.
It isn't over roasted like some other brands and all I can say is to give it a fighting chance. The price is much more generous than Lifeboost, and being ground coffee the grind is on the finer side so works well with several brewing methods.
What we disliked about this
It comes in a 12oz bag only and not a generous 1lb bag, which is obviously a common marketing tactic and there is no decaf blend, which is a shame if all you have is decaf coffee!
#3 - New England Donut Shop Blend Light Roast Ground Coffee
- Donut Shop Blend Coffee: Our premium 100% Arabica beans are lightly roasted for a smooth, mellow taste
- Ground Coffee: Made of 100% Arabica coffee. Gluten free and Certified Kosher ground coffee. Use only fresh water when brewing the coffee grounds for smooth taste and flavor
- Small Batch Roast: Sourced from the finest coffee growing regions, our premium coffees are always 100% Arabica coffee beans, which are small-batch roasted for consistently balanced flavor every time
- Family Tradition: For more than 100 years, New England Coffee has roasted our premium coffee the same time tested way right in New England. So you can count on deliciously consistent flavor cup after cup, sip after sip
A number one best seller light roast coffee has to be this New England donut shop light roast blend. New England coffee produces coffee from 100% premium Arabica beans that delivers a smooth mellow taste.
They source their coffee from the best growing regions, and only batch roast small amounts so that they can deliver consistently balanced flavor each and every time.
To get the best tasting coffee with New England you want to be brewing with a filter or a drip method, such as with a pour over coffee maker.
What we liked and disliked about this
We liked that it had a mellow taste to it, which was quite smooth! However compared to actually liking it, it wasn't to our liking and probably will never try it again.
#4 - Real Good Coffee Co Breakfast Blend Light Roast
- Whole Bean Light Roast Coffee - Your day just got better, thanks to Real Good Coffee Co's Breakfast Blend! Our light roast whole bean coffee is sure to give you the caffeinated boost you need to ease your way into your morning routine
- Quality Taste and Smell - Thanks to the smooth and satisfying flavor of our Breakfast Blend, our flavored whole bean coffee delivers a brisk citrus taste with a deliciously aromatic note of milk chocolate and cream that will make you want a second cup
- Sustainably Sourced and Packaged - Our high quality coffee beans are made with 100% premium Arabica coffee beans from Central and South America, which are grown, sourced, and packaged responsibly before being roasted fresh right here in Seattle, Washington
- Works With All Brewers - Our classic light roast coffee beans are compatible with just about any coffee machine, including standard coffee makers, drip machines, espresso makers, French press, AeroPress, pour-over, and Moka pot
Another best light roast coffee that you need to try is the real good coffee co breakfast blend. This light roast coffee is perfect for the morning, with a smooth irresistible taste on the pallet that you can't go wrong with.
Real good coffee co is made with premium quality Arabica coffee beans from Central and South America, which are roasted freshly in Seattle.
You can expect to experience tasting notes of smooth flavor that brings together a brisk citrus taste with smooth aromatic notes of milk chocolate.
To make the most out of this coffee, use it with drip machines, espresso makers or french press!
What we liked about this
Real good coffee hits the spot, regardless of the blend you have, but this light roast is particularly good if you want to drink black coffee but aren't into how bitter the coffee can be.
With this light roast you can expect no bitterness and overall good quality tasting coffee.
What we disliked about this
The roast wasn't as light as we'd hope for, it is probably due to it being roasted a little longer than usual so the taste isn't that good compared to something like Lifeboost or Kicking horse coffee!
Related Article: Interesting Facts on How Long Coffee Lasts
#5 - AmazonFresh Just Right Light Roast Coffee Beans
- Light roast with a crisp and clean flavor
- One 32-ounce bag of whole bean coffee
- 100% Arabica coffee grown in Central and South America
- Roasted and packed in the U.S.A.
Last but not least is this AmazonFresh light roast coffee made from 100% Arabica coffee grown in Central and South America.
Coming in a generous 32-ounce bag of coffee, you'll expect to experience crisp and clean coffee with a bright flavor, perfect for starting the morning out a little easy.
What we liked about this
We were pleasantly surprised by the amazing value you can get with this brand and it is definitely value for money! Besides that it does make a good cup of coffee if you are a daily coffee drinker preferring a lighter roast.
What we disliked about this
The roast was a little far from light than what we expected and we would definitely consider it as a medium roast. Besides that the flavor is still good, but when lightly roasted you'd expect the beans to be lighter in comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we have the top picks of light roast coffee out of the way, you may have a couple of questions that may leave your wondering.
Whatever the reason or question, I’ve put together some commonly asked questions about light roast coffee that I am going to cover off for you.
So if you’re almost ready to buy the best light roast coffee, but are a little undecided then keep reading to find out more.What is light roast coffee?
Light roast coffee is coffee beans that have been roasted in a way to produce a lightly colored brown bean, with little to no surface oil.
This produces a very low acidic and less full-bodied tasting coffee, compared to a dark roasted bean which often tastes a bit charred.
Light roast coffee generally has much more caffeine than some of the other roasts since it still dense since it is not roasted as long.
It is generally preferred by people who want to taste a much milder tasting coffee, as it retains most of the originating flavors and elements of the beans.Â
A lighter roast will produce a much more complex flavor that goes down a treat for anybody looking to change their roast.
Why light roast coffee is better?
According to the Journal of Medicinal Food, a recent study shows that light roast coffee offers a tonne more antioxidants compared to dark roast coffee.
Dark roast coffee can often cause inflammation or lead to gastric problems, such as reflux. By having a lighter roast coffee that has more antioxidants you’ll be countering the effects that can result from having dark roast coffee.
Besides that, there are many other amazing benefits that come as a result of having a lighter roast, such as:
- Increased Alertness and Memory;
- Hair Loss Prevention;
- Promoting Men’s Reproductive health.
There are many other benefits to having light roast coffee and I highly recommend adding some of these beans to your next shopping list.
Related Article: The Best Coffee Cup Warmers
Is light roast coffee less bitter
Since the flavor of light roast coffee is more complex, it usually results in less bitter tasting coffee than it’s dark counterpart.
However, if you’re prone to making errors in the brewing process you can often end up with a bitter-tasting coffee that resembles a dark roast, so it is best to ensure you are capable of making a good cup of joe.
If you usually have espresso with your coffee beans, you’ll definitely be able to taste the difference between light and dark roast, just like you would if you had decaffeinated beans.
The taste is less subtle in milk-based drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos since the milk usually overpowers most of the coffee.
In a nutshell, light roast can definitely taste less bitter than regular dark roast but often times you will overcome this and it will taste just like having any other coffee.
what does light roast coffee taste like
You’ll often find yourself tasting a sweet tangy taste with a strong scent when having light roast coffee.
As I’ve mentioned before, there is usually a difference in flavor dues to the roasting process in which light beans have been roasted to.
Dark roast is commonly roasted much longer, which results in oils over the beans giving a less complex taste that is often more bitter.
The notes you experience with your blend of coffee generally depends on the extraction or brewing process on the other hand.
Is light roast coffee good for you?
Just like with any other roast of coffee there are several health benefits that you can get from having light roast coffee, so it is definitely good for you.
The biggest benefit on the other hand though is the anti-inflammatory properties that are much more noticeable with light roast and also the antioxidants that it has.
If you’re the type of person that loves having lattes, cappuccinos, Americano’s or espresso’s but constantly suffer from gastric reflux, then having a light roast coffee may do you some justice.
Yes, simply switching your coffee may relieve or even better, completely eliminate your issues you’re having after a good coffee.
Can you use light roast for cold brew?
There is no reason why you cannot use light roast for cold brew coffee with a pour-over machine or even a french press.
The best way to enjoy a light roast cold brew coffee is by getting a natural light roast which can often lead to you enjoying the hell out of them after mowing the lawns or doing the gardens.
Taste wise it can be a little different than the traditional dark roast you will be accustomed to, but don’t worry the difference in taste is generally replaced within a week or so.
That is because over this time, you have trained your taste buds to enjoy it more!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, I’ve covered the best light roast coffee you need to be trying the next time you get some new beans.
Light roast coffee definitely has all the benefits you get from regular roast coffee, but also the biggest benefit being anti-inflammatory which will make a big difference to most of you.
In summary, my top pick has to be the Lifeboost Coffee Light roast which has been naturally roasted using some hand methods and is also low acidic coffee, making it excellent for your health.