The process from green to roasted beans is a quick evolution. Over a period of roughly 15 minutes, the green coffee loses moisture, turns yellow and "pops" open, much like popcorn. As it does so, the bean nearly doubles in size, and begins to assume the very light tan color of lightly roasted coffee. Once this stage is achieved (about 8 minutes into the roast), the heat source is turned down and the coffee rapidly darkens in color. When the desired degree of roast has been achieved, the roasting process either is stopped by quenching the beans (using a brief spray of water followed by cooling air) or by just air alone. Alakef Coffee Roasters chooses to cool the coffee beans using the air method.

Degrees of Roasts (lightest to darkest)

Cinnamon:
Light brown, dry surface.
Grainy taste, distinct sour or acidic tones.

American or City:
Medium brown, dry surface with some wrinkles, flat color.
Typical commercial roast, no grain flavor, some acidity, richer tones than cinnamon, flavor profile not fully developed.

Full City:
Darker, richer brown, oil patches on smooth surface, no wrinkles.
Slight, roasted, bittersweet tang, less acidity than American roast, full profile of coffee flavor.

Vienna:
Dark brown, oily surface.
Definite bittersweet taste, all acidity tones gone.

French:
Very dark brown, almost black, very shiny, oily surface.
Dark caramel tones, all acidity tones gone.