Is there a difference between "city" and "city+" roast?
There is a distinct difference; "City" roast is a light roast ending right around the end of the , preserving original bean characteristics, while "City+" roast is developed slightly further to provide more balance, sweetness, and body. Both are considered light-to-medium roasts in the spectrum, favored for highlighting origin-specific acidity and .
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The terms "City" and "City+" are part of a traditional roast-level nomenclature used to describe how far a coffee has been developed. When a roaster speaks of a City roast, they are referring to a coffee pulled from the roaster shortly after the has finished. Because the development time is short, the resulting cup is typically bright, acidic, and highly expressive of the specific bean's origin. This is the most often associated with high-end, single-origin specialty coffees where the goal is to showcase the unique characteristics imparted by , , and variety.
A City+ roast, by contrast, is allowed to develop for slightly longer. It moves past the initial finish of the but stops well before the second crack. This extra time allows for the breakdown of more complex carbohydrates, resulting in more caramelization and a perceived increase in sweetness. While a City roast might hit you with vibrant lemon or floral notes, a City+ roast will often round those notes out, offering a fuller body and a more balanced finish.
These terms are subjective and vary slightly from roaster to roaster, but they serve as a useful shorthand for understanding the intended flavor profile. A roaster selling a City roast is telling you: "Expect brightness and clarity." A roaster selling a City+ roast is saying: "Expect a bit more comfort, sweetness, and balance."
In practice, the choice between these levels depends on the bean itself. A dense, high-grown Ethiopian coffee might shine as a City roast, where its delicate jasmine and citrus notes can be fully appreciated. A lower-density Brazilian bean, which may lack that same acidity but offer excellent nutty or chocolatey bases, might perform much better as a City+. For the consumer, understanding these distinctions helps move beyond the simple "light vs. dark" binary, allowing you to select a roast that best complements the specific coffee variety and your personal brewing preferences.
- ·https://sca.coffee/Verify source for reference 1 ↗
- ·https://ncausa.org/Verify source for reference 2 ↗