Is There a Relationship Between Coffee Roast Levels (Light, Medium, Dark) and First and Second Crack Points?

The Sounds of Coffee Roasting: First Crack and Second Crack

At FrontStreet Coffee's roasting facility, when you enter the roasting room and approach the roaster, you'll easily have the opportunity to hear the crackling sounds of beans during roasting. What do these sounds represent? When coffee beans are heated, they have two opportunities to produce sounds, known respectively as "First Crack" and "Second Crack."

What is First Crack?

This occurs because heat causes large amounts of gas and water vapor to form inside the beans. When the internal pressure can no longer be contained, the bean volume expands and then cracks. First crack occurs when the roasting temperature reaches approximately 196-205°C. The sound is relatively loud and somewhat resembles popcorn popping, which can be used to determine that the beans have begun to reach a light roast level. Yirgacheffe coffee beans are suitable for this light roast level. Roasts between first and second crack are classified as medium roasts.

What is Second Crack?

If heating continues at this point, as the temperature continues to rise, you'll hear the more subtle sounds of second crack, which occurs at a roasting temperature of approximately 225-230°C. After second crack begins, the oils from the beans will emerge to the surface, marking the deep roast stage. Blue Mountain coffee and Brazilian coffee belong to this deep roast category. You might be curious and wonder what would happen if you continued roasting. Of course, due to carbonization, they would eventually burn.

Cooling

Roasted coffee beans must be cooled quickly to prevent self-roasting from occurring. Currently, professional coffee roasting machines on the market come equipped with dedicated cooling trays, but when roasting multiple large batches, attention must still be paid to temperature changes of the coffee after roasting.

Resting

Roasted coffee beans require different resting times depending on the heating methods of different roasting machines. Just like resting a grilled steak, rested coffee will exhibit better flavor performance!