I have always been an espresso lover, but everything on the coffee side of things defines what a perfect day is. If you’re like me, I know you would agree.
Starbucks’ Signature Blonde Roast has made huge waves since its entrance and has been a thing for many coffee aficionados. If you were to weigh in the espresso and blonde roast, you would think that the former has more caffeine than the latter. I don’t blame you.
Blonde roast contains higher caffeine levels compared to a regular espresso. This is due to its shorter roasting time, which is normally halted right after the first crack. A regular espresso is a bit lower in caffeine levels because of its longer roasting process. The coffee beans used also make a difference.
Are you an espresso lover like me? For sure you are! So, let’s go on and learn more about this so-delish-beverage thing!
Blonde Roast
Also called light roast, the blonde roast is a signature blend of the coffee giant Starbucks. Well, at least it’s the first one to introduce blonde espresso to the market. It’s called blonde to make it more appealing to coffee lovers, especially those who are coffee shopgoers.
The coffee beans used to produce blonde roast are a mix of East African and Latin American, which makes it taste stronger with natural sweetness. When heat is applied to the coffee beans, chemical reactions are triggered that causes aroma and different compounds.
Under a temperature of 200°C to 205°C, the water in the beans vaporizes, which expands them and triggers the first crack. As soon as the first crack takes place, the process is halted that produces blonde roast coffee beans. Ladies and gents, this is where your favorite blonde espresso comes from.
Talking about caffeine levels, yes, a blonde roast has higher caffeine levels than an espresso. For instance, Starbucks’ blonde espresso grande size has 360 mg of caffeine while the coffee giant’s regular espresso or dark roast has 260 mg of the same size.
If you notice the figures, blonde espresso is 100 mg higher in caffeine content than dark roast espresso. It’s just like tea. The longer it stays in the roaster, the lower the caffeine it provides. And the shorter it stays in the roaster, the higher the caffeine it produces.
Most blonde roast espresso lovers like its lemony mouthfeel. They think that they can taste more of the coffee bean’s flavor due to its shorter roasting process. Others claim that it gives a little sour taste due to its high acidity with some floral hints. If you were to ask me, I like blonde espresso’s natural sweetness and its hints of floral.
Blonde Roast Beverages
Here’s the exciting part. As an espresso lover, I always check and explore new espresso-based beverages that are offered in coffee shops. One favorite is Starbucks’ blonde caffe latte. But there are other blonde roast beverages too that I highly recommend.
Don’t get me wrong. I love everything about coffee, but we all have favorites too, right? Check these drinks I think are the best blonde roast beverages.
Of course, Starbucks blonde roast drinks are on this list. The coffee giant deserves it. After all, the blonde roast is its signature blend. Right!
- Starbucks Blonde Espresso
- Starbucks Blonde Cappuccino
- Starbucks Blonde Caffe Americano
- Starbucks Blonde Americano Misto
- Starbucks Blonde Caffe Latte
- Starbucks Blonde Hazelnut Latte
- Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte
- Starbucks Blonde Flat White
- Starbucks Blonde Roast Coffee
- Iced Starbucks Blonde Caffe Americano
- Iced Starbucks Blonde Vanilla Latte
- Iced Starbucks Blonde Hazelnut Latte
Homemade Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte
Not to brag, but I’ve tried a few blonde roast drinks at home. At least I did my best to copy Starbucks’ blonde roast signature blend drinks. How cool am I?
But one of my favorite blonde roast drinks that I made at home is an iced blonde vanilla latte. I like its sweet taste on the classic espresso, but with warm and flora notes. Ah, the aroma. It’s just perfect!
I highly recommend buying Starbucks blonde roast, especially since it’s one of the coffee giant’s signature drinks. It’s available at their coffee shops everywhere in the U.S., and worldwide. Assuming that you already have your own espresso machine, making this iced blonde vanilla latte comes in handy.
What you’ll need:
- Espresso shot from Starbucks blonde roast
- 2 tbsp. of vanilla syrup
- 3/4 cup of whole milk
- Iced cubes
What to do:
- Pull a shot of espresso from your espresso machine, and get your vanilla syrup, and a tall glass ready.
- Cool your espresso for a few minutes with some iced cubes.
- Put the cooled espresso on your tall glass.
- Add the vanilla syrup and stir until well-mixed.
- Add more iced cubes. Around 8 to 10 iced cubes are perfect for this drink.
- Then pour the whole milk on the glass, and voila, your Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte is ready!
- Pro Tip: I use a reusable straw in drinking this beverage so I can keep stirring it while having a sip. How convenient! Wink!
Espresso
Ah, the classic espresso. It is one of my go-to drinks.
Espresso is also called dark when the process takes longer than the blonde roast. Usually, it’s past the second crack of the roasting process where the coffee beans’ cell walls break, which results in a darker profile. The coffee beans used for this are of Pacific region and Latin American origin.
Because the coffee beans are roasted after the second crack, it creates a fuller, more vivid taste when pulled using an espresso machine. It’s more concentrated, which makes it ideal as a base for different espresso drinks.
The coffee beans also lose their acidity as they stay in the roaster longer than the second crack. The beans also become more oily with more caramel notes. This is why many coffee aficionados love using espresso as the base for many different coffee beverages.
Espresso also contains lower caffeine levels due to its longer roasting process, but the taste becomes bolder and deeper.
Popular Espresso-Based Beverages
So, here’s another exciting part. There are so many espresso-based beverages that are very popular these days since coffee shops became a thing. And we’re not just talking about coffee houses. Even some restaurants have espresso on their menu, and that’s really cool.
The list below, I’m sure, you’re very familiar with, or probably your favorite espresso drink. It also includes alcoholic drinks that contain espresso. Don’t get drunk just yet!
- Cappuccino
- Caffe Latte
- Macchiato
- Mocha
- Flat White
- Cortado
- Red Eye
- Lungo
- Ristretto
- Americano
- Breve
- Espresso Con Panna
- Dirty Chai Latte
- Doppio
- Piccolo Latte
- Galao
- Caffe Corretto
- Espresso Martini
- Cubano
- Affogato
- Vodka Espresso
- Irish Coffee
- Cafe Caribbean
- Flaming Spanish Coffee
Is Espresso Healthy?
Espresso or coffee, in general, is known for providing stimulating effects that fine-tune and boost physical activities. This is due to the caffeine content that’s present in the coffee beans. Regardless of how the coffee beans are roasted, they still contain caffeine although it varies per serving.
So, back to the question. Is espresso healthy?
Well, yes! Even if you drink coffee or espresso daily, it doesn’t cause any adverse health effects. If you drink it excessively, then we have a problem.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recommends limiting the caffeine daily intake to 400 mg for healthy adults. That’s around four to five cups of coffee a day, including a shot of espresso. And it’s healthy enough to have it daily as long as it’s not excessive.
Your cup of joe or espresso is packed with antioxidants that can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, liver problems, heart diseases, among others. Some studies also suggested that caffeine could help protect you from certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Drinking coffee in moderation is also linked to a reduced risk of suicide, which is caused by depression. Caffeine is a stimulant that boosts your mood, therefore helps you get through the day. This can help you be more physically active where your brains work more on regulating your energy levels.
So, don’t fret about drinking four or five cups of your favorite cuppa. Just don’t try to have a caffeine overdose. It’s not nice!
The Bottom Line
Blonde roast contains higher caffeine levels than a regular espresso or dark roast. This is because of the former’s shorter roasting time as well as the coffee beans used. Espresso, on the other hand, has a lower caffeine content as its beans stay in the roaster for a longer period, or usually past the second crack.
Both blonde roast and espresso have a huge following among coffee aficionados. They have different versions of beverages that coffee drinkers love, including me. But if you fancy doing it on your own, the Starbucks-style iced blonde vanilla latte recipe that calls for a blonde roast is worth it.
So, if you want to learn more about how espresso coffee beans are processed, I have detailed information in this article that you want to check. Have fun!