Looking for a mild coffee, not bitter.

QUESTION:

I am a relatively new coffee drinker and I am not sure what type of coffee to buy for home. I tried a dark French Roast but it tastes bitter to me. I am looking for a decaf that is not bitter. If you have any suggestions or information about how to choose a coffee I would really appreciate it.

ANSWER:

The bitterness or otherwise of a coffee is determined largely by how it is roasted.

The darker the roast, the stronger that bitter taste.

Of course, "bitterness" is a subjective term. Some people will describe a dark-roasted coffee as having a "bitter-sweet" taste, and they love it.

If you are looking for a milder taste, with no bitterness, look for a medium or light roasted coffee. You'll find the taste a lot more mellow.

A good starting point would be to find a medium roasted Colombian coffee. After that, you can try medium-roasted coffees from many different countries and regions. Many of them offer a decaffeinated version.