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Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for City Plus Roast; not a documentary photograph
Roast

City Plus Roast

Quick definition

A City Plus roast is a medium roast level that extends slightly beyond the City roast, offering a more balanced cup with increased sweetness, a fuller body, and a reduction in the sharp acidity of lighter roasts.

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The City Plus roast is a step forward from the City roast, representing a medium roast level that has been allowed to develop for a slightly longer duration. By extending the roast time after the first crack, the roaster encourages more caramelization of the bean's natural sugars, which results in a more balanced and rounded flavor profile.

When asking what is a City Plus roast, you are looking for a coffee that retains the clarity and origin character of a City roast but with added depth. The acidity is still present, but it is softer and more integrated into the cup, while the body is noticeably fuller. The beans are a medium-brown color and remain dry, as they have not yet reached the point where oils break through to the surface.

Coffee City Plus roast profiles are highly popular in the specialty coffee industry because they offer a 'best of both worlds' experience. They are developed enough to be sweet and approachable, yet they still allow the unique characteristics of the coffee's origin to shine through. This makes them an excellent choice for a wide variety of brewing methods, including both filter coffee and lighter-bodied espresso.

In practice, the City Plus roast is often the target for roasters who want to create a versatile, crowd-pleasing coffee that doesn't sacrifice the nuances of the bean. It is a reliable roast level that provides a consistent, sweet, and complex cup. If you enjoy a coffee that has a bit of everything—brightness, sweetness, and body—the City Plus roast is likely to be a perfect fit for your palate.