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5 Light Roasts Every Coffee Lover Should Try in 2026

Our curated selection of outstanding light roast coffees that showcase origin character and complex flavor profiles.

RoastRank Team·February 10, 2026

5 Light Roasts Every Coffee Lover Should Try in 2026

Light roasts are where specialty coffee truly shines. By roasting less aggressively, the bean's natural flavors — shaped by terroir, variety, and processing — come through with stunning clarity.

Here are five exceptional light roasts that exemplify the best of what's available right now.

1. Onyx Coffee Lab — Geometry

A blend designed to showcase light roast versatility. Geometry delivers notes of stone fruit, milk chocolate, and brown sugar with a silky body that works beautifully as both pour over and espresso.

Best brewed as: Pour Over or AeroPress

2. SEY Coffee — Colombia El Paraíso

This Colombian lot from the renowned El Paraíso farm uses anaerobic natural processing to create an intensely fruity cup. Think strawberry, guava, and vanilla with a wine-like finish.

Best brewed as: Pour Over

3. Passenger Coffee — Ethiopia Worka Sakaro

A washed Ethiopian from the Gedeo zone that delivers textbook Yirgacheffe character. Expect jasmine, lemon zest, and black tea with a clean, lingering finish.

Best brewed as: Pour Over or Chemex

4. Luna Coffee — Kenya Gachatha AA

Kenyan coffees are legendary for their blackcurrant acidity and tomato-like sweetness. This AA grade lot from Gachatha is no exception — bright, juicy, and complex.

Best brewed as: Pour Over

5. Brandywine Coffee — Guatemala Huehuetenango

A beautifully balanced Guatemalan that bridges the gap between light and medium roast lovers. Caramel sweetness meets citrus brightness with a nutty finish.

Best brewed as: Drip, Pour Over, or AeroPress

What Makes a Great Light Roast?

The best light roasts share a few qualities:

  • Clarity: Individual flavor notes are distinct and identifiable
  • Acidity: Bright, lively acidity that feels like juiciness, not sourness
  • Sweetness: Natural sweetness that develops as the cup cools
  • Complexity: Layers of flavor that evolve with each sip

When brewing light roasts, use slightly hotter water (200–205°F) and a finer grind than you might for darker roasts. Light roasts are denser and need more extraction energy to unlock their full potential.

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