The popping sound as beans expand during roasting

Do dark roasts have more caffeine?

No, about the same or slightly less by weight

Papery skin that comes off during roasting

Why do coffee bags have one-way valves?

Let gas out without letting air in

The Coffee Roasting Quiz – Facts Worth Knowing

Coffee beans make a cracking sound like popcorn when they roast, and the coffee roasting quiz explains what happens inside the bean. Learn about first and second crack, the Maillard reaction, light, medium and dark roasts, why dark roasts have slightly less caffeine by weight and how Italian and French roasts got their names.

Start the Coffee Roasting Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Green
What are unroasted coffee beans called?
Crack
What is first crack?
Second
What does second crack usually signal?
Maillard
Which reaction helps create roasted flavors?
Caffeine
Do dark roasts have more caffeine?
Light
What do light roasts often highlight?
Chaff
What is chaff?
Degas
Why do roasters let beans rest after roasting?
Valve
Why do coffee bags have one-way valves?
Weight
How much weight do beans lose during roasting?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What are unroasted coffee beans called?
Answer: Green coffee
They smell grassy.
Q2: What is first crack?
Answer: The popping sound as beans expand during roasting
It marks a light roast.
Q3: What does second crack usually signal?
Answer: Entering darker roast levels
Oils start to surface.
Q4: Which reaction helps create roasted flavors?
Answer: The Maillard reaction
Sugars and amino acids react.
Q5: Do dark roasts have more caffeine?
Answer: No, about the same or slightly less by weight
Darker does not mean stronger.
Q6: What do light roasts often highlight?
Answer: Origin flavors and acidity
They preserve fruit and floral notes.
Q7: What is chaff?
Answer: Papery skin that comes off during roasting
Roasters collect it.
Q8: Why do roasters let beans rest after roasting?
Answer: To release carbon dioxide
It is called degassing.
Q9: Why do coffee bags have one-way valves?
Answer: Let gas out without letting air in
Fresh beans release CO2.
Q10: How much weight do beans lose during roasting?
Answer: About 15 to 20 percent
Mostly water.

The Coffee Roasting Quiz – From Green to Brown

Coffee beans start green and grassy, and roasting transforms them into the aromatic beans we brew. Heat drives off moisture, triggers chemical reactions such as the Maillard reaction and caramelization and creates hundreds of flavor compounds.

During roasting, beans crack as they expand, a sound called first crack. Light roasts are stopped soon after, preserving origin flavors and acidity, while longer roasts reach second crack and develop darker, bittersweet, smoky notes. Beans lose about 15 to 20 percent of their weight.

Contrary to popular belief, dark roasts are not stronger in caffeine. After roasting, beans release carbon dioxide, so roasters let them rest and use bags with one-way valves. Roasting is both science and art.

What This Quiz Teaches

Coffee lovers and home roasters will enjoy these questions.

What green coffee is
What first and second crack are
Which reactions create flavor
How roast affects caffeine
Why beans need to degas

Did You Know?

Drum roasters are common.
Home roasters may use popcorn poppers.
Roast profiles are logged by software.
Cinnamon roast is very light.
French roast is very dark.