If you have a hard time waking up in the morning, changing to a light roast coffee may do the trick. There are many reasons to like light roast coffee including the fact that they tend to have more caffeine than other roasts. What should you look for in a light roast coffee? Why should you choose it over other roast strengths? In this handy guide, we will explore the best light roast coffee options available and discuss what makes a great light roast.
Table Of Contents
- 1 Top 9 Best Light Roast Coffee Beans
- 1.1 1. Starbucks Blonde Roast Ground Coffee
- 1.2 2. Kuju Premium Pour-Over Coffee
- 1.3 3. Peet’s Coffee Luminosa Breakfast Blend
- 1.4 4. Real Good Coffee Co Breakfast Blend
- 1.5 5. Subtle Earth Organic Coffee
- 1.6 6. Cameron’s Breakfast Blend
- 1.7 7. Fresh Roasted White Knight Coffee
- 1.8 8. AmazonFresh Just Bright Coffee
- 1.9 9. Kicking Horse Hola Coffee
- 2 Why Should You Choose a Light Roast Coffee?
- 3 Conclusion
Top 9 Best Light Roast Coffee Beans
Image | Product | Details | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Starbucks Blonde Roast Ground Coffee |
| Check On Amazon |
![]() | Kuju Premium Pour-Over Coffee |
| Check On Amazon |
![]() | Peet’s Coffee Luminosa Breakfast Blend |
| Check On Amazon |
![]() | Real Good Coffee Co Breakfast Blend |
| Check On Amazon |
![]() | Subtle Earth Organic Coffee |
| Check On Amazon |
![]() | Cameron's Breakfast Blend |
| Check On Amazon |
![]() | Fresh Roasted White Knight Coffee |
| Check On Amazon |
![]() | AmazonFresh Just Bright Coffee |
| Check On Amazon |
![]() | Kicking Horse Hola Coffee |
| Check On Amazon |
1. Starbucks Blonde Roast Ground Coffee
Starbucks, the world’s most consumed coffee brand, has created a light blonde roast coffee. This is a blend inspired by Latin American farmers retaining the same taste as the farmers used to serve but have become mass-produced. The coffee is produced through a wash process, meaning that the coffee cherries, where the coffee beans come from, are de-pulped and fermented. This separates any remaining pectin that causes that acidic taste and can cause acid reflux in those with stomach sensitivities. After this, the beans are washed clean, dried, and roasted. This process ensures a light roast with low acidity.
Being one of the most selling light roasts on the market, it will be incredibly easy to find both online and offline. Its lighter taste is ideal for a broad audience, having delicate notes of cocoa and lightly roasted nuts.
Specifications
- Brand: Starbucks
- 100% Arabica beans
- Ground Beans
- Light roast
- Caffeinated
- Weight:28 oz bag
2. Kuju Premium Pour-Over Coffee
For those who enjoy pour-over coffee, Kuju offers convenient single-serve packets with 100% Arabica beans from Thailand, Central, and South America. Their light roast ground coffee is called Angel’s Landing. It has a smooth finish with floral, nutty, and citrus flavor notes. Angel’s Landing is kept fresh through a nitro-flushed process that removes all oxygen from the packets and is packaged in a wind-powered facility. These packets are especially convenient because they clip right onto your coffee mug for an easy pour. They can be used for either hot or iced coffee and are easy to consume black as there is very little acidity.
Kuju Coffee is one of the most eco-friendly and ethically sourced coffee companies I have seen. In addition to having 100% wind power state-of-the-art facilities, they are a member of 1% for the Planet and 1% of all their sales benefit the National Park Foundation. Their single-serve packets are made with compostable and recyclable materials. Kuju’s farmers in Thailand also employ former victims of sex trafficking as a way for them to reestablish their lives.
Specifications
- Brand: Kuju Coffee
- 100% Arabica beans
- Ground Beans
- Single-serve Pour Over
- Light roast
- Caffeinated
- Weight: 0.5 oz packets; Pack of 10
3. Peet’s Coffee Luminosa Breakfast Blend
Peet’s Coffee, a well-known brand, has five different blends available. Their Luminosa Breakfast Blend is a light roast coffee with notes of citrus and undertones of smooth milk chocolate. Originally these beans were harvested in the Colombian highlands, but Peet’s have since switched to sourcing their beans from Ethiopia. This gives the coffee more floral tones in addition to the citrus. This coffee has a mild and smooth taste, making it easily drinkable for those with stomach sensitivities. This coffee brews very quickly compared to other coffee beans.
Specifications
- Brand: Peet’s Coffee
- 100% Arabica beans
- Ground Beans
- Certified Kosher
- Light roast
- Caffeinated
- Weight: 12 oz bag
4. Real Good Coffee Co Breakfast Blend
Real Good Coffee Co Breakfast Blend uses sustainably sourced, premium quality Arabica beans from Central and South America. They are collected in large batches then shipped to and freshly roasted in Seattle, Washington. After roasting, these beans are packaged in bags with a built-in ziplock seal. This ensures that the beans remain fresh. They are suitable to use in drip machines, French press, and for pour-over coffee.
This light roast is richer than most with smooth citrus notes with undertones of milk chocolate and double cream. This gives this coffee a smooth, gentle taste. Unlike a lot of lighter roasts, this breakfast blend withstands milk well, although it might not be necessary with the tones of cream already in the roast. This roast is ideal for those who would be looking to buy coffee in bulk as it is only available in 2lb bags. This is a good value for the cost and the company offers zero questions asked satisfaction guarantee. If you ever have a question or concern, their customer service is top-notch.
Specifications
- Brand: Real Good Coffee Company
- 100% Arabica beans
- Whole beans
- Light roast
- Caffeinated
- Weight: 2lbs
5. Subtle Earth Organic Coffee
Subtle Earth Organic Coffee made by Cafe Don Pablo is 100 percent organic certified by the USDA and the CCOF. Ethically sourced in Honduras, small farmers handpick their beans and grow them adjacent to pepper plants. These pepper plants act as a natural repellent for bugs. This allows them to grow high-quality beans without the use of harmful pesticides. In addition to being organic certified, Subtle Earth Coffee is also GMO-free.
This coffee, although pricey, is available in bulk. They come in 2lb or 5lb bags which will last a while. The double-sealed packaging is a plus, keeping the coffee beans fresh. They come with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee by the company and are only available in whole beans. This will require a grinder but these are fairly inexpensive if you do not already have one.
Subtle Earth Organic Coffee has a rich and chocolatey flavor profile, complemented by notes of honey and caramel. This light roast has a surprisingly deep flavor, low acidity, and no bitterness making it smooth and very drinkable. These beans can be used for traditional coffee drip machines, french press, and espresso machines. Slow roasting will extract the full-bodied flavor of the roast but is flavorful no matter what method you use.
Specifications
- Brand: Cafe Don Pablo
- 100% Arabica beans
- Whole beans
- Light roast
- Caffeinated
- Weight: 2lb
6. Cameron’s Breakfast Blend
Cameron’s Breakfast Blend is the perfect coffee to wake up to. Using 100% certified special grade Arabica coffee beans, Cameron creates their blends in small batches ensuring that they use only the highest quality beans which have been rated the top 10% in the world. These beans are sustainably sourced from Central and South America and are never over-roasted. They are roasted just enough to have a golden color in European-style roasters. Cameron’s uses a special cooling process that ensures freshness.
This breakfast blend has a delectable fruity aroma paired with delicious notes of nuts and light cinnamon. It is no surprise that delicate care is used to ensure the best quality. What is a surprise is that these premium quality beans are available at a bargain price.
Specifications
- Brand: Cameron’s
- 100% Arabica beans
- Ground beans
- Light roast
- Caffeinated
- Weight: 12 oz bags
- Also available in eco-pods
7. Fresh Roasted White Knight Coffee
Being Fair Trade certified, guarantees the Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC pays everyone a reasonable wage including their overseas bean suppliers. They have a great reputation for making high-quality organic coffee. Their White Knight roast is a light roast coffee with clean notes of bing cherry and cocoa. Only available in the option of whole beans, a grinder is necessary to use it. Whole beans often have a richer flavor than pre-ground beans, ensuring high quality.
Specifications
- Brand: Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC
- 100% Arabica beans
- Whole beans
- Light roast
- Caffeinated
- Weight: 2lb
8. AmazonFresh Just Bright Coffee
You may not have known that Amazon has its own coffee brand called AmazonFresh. Their Just Bright Coffee blend is a light roast made with 100% Arabica beans grown in Central and South America. It has been acclaimed by many for its taste with addictive nutty-caramel notes that will keep you drinking it all day. Not only is it tasty, but budget-friendly. You have the option of a 12 oz or 32 oz bag which will last a few weeks and is about half the price of other 2-pound high-quality coffees.
Specifications
- Brand: AmazonFresh
- 100% Arabica beans
- Whole beans
- Light roast
- Caffeinated
- Weight: 12 or 32oz bags
9. Kicking Horse Hola Coffee
Kicking Horse is a reputable coffee brand using 100% Arabica beans organically grown in Central and South America. Being a Fairtrade, organic, and kosher certified company, Kicking Horse coffee is guaranteed to be ethically sourced, sustainable, and of high quality. Their light roast blend called Hola has a sweet aroma of brown sugar, rich nougat, and cocoa powder. Hola has an acidity of juicy red currants with flavor notes of a creamy honey body. Not only can you be sure that this is an ethically sourced blend but it has great value. Despite its high quality, it is available at a bargain price.
Specifications
- Brand: Kicking Horse
- 100% Arabica beans
- Ground Beans
- Light roast
- Caffeinated
- Weight:10 oz bag
Why Should You Choose a Light Roast Coffee?
Caffeine Content and Flavor
Light roast coffee options are great for those who want the energy and taste of coffee without the acidity that comes with darker roasts. It is a false belief that the light roast coffees are watered down and do not have flavor. Light roast coffees can be very flavorful and tend to have more caffeine than other types of roasts. Often they have a fruity aroma of cherry, currant, or citrus with notes of sweets like chocolate, cream, or caramel.
It Is Great For Black Coffee
Since they are flavorful yet low in acidity they can be ideal for black coffee, especially for beginners to black coffee. Of course, it can also be enjoyed with milk or creamer if that is your preference, but a light roast is very flexible in the respect that almost anyone can enjoy it black.
Low Acidity
Most light roast coffees are low in acidity. This is not only ideal for those new to drinking black coffee, but it is great for those who have stomach sensitivities to the acid in coffee. High acidity can aggravate acid reflux in some individuals. If you find that after drinking coffee you have stomach discomfort, switch to a light roast and see if it makes a difference for you.
Conclusion
There are a lot of great light roast coffee options that provide high quality for a great value. They can be very versatile in the way you wish to brew whether it is pour-over, Moka pot, drip machine, etc. Many people who do not normally enjoy black coffee find light roast easy to drink black and it is ideal for those who normally experience stomach discomfort due to acidity