If you're a coffee lover and even a little curious, you must have looked at a coffee bag and wondered how coffee beans could taste like blueberries, chocolate, or jasmine. But they do taste like them, and these very descriptions of coffee are known as coffee tasting notes.

Basically, these ‘notes’ are a way of describing the aroma, flavour, and feel of the coffee in your cup. And every other type of coffee is vastly different when it comes to these notes. 

Once you know what these notes mean and how you can identify them, picking your favourite specialty coffee becomes much easier. Better yet, drinking it also becomes a lot more interesting.

What Are Coffee Tasting Notes? 

As covered above, tasting notes are a way of describing the aromas and flavours of different types of coffee. Bear in mind that they do not imply that some flavour or aroma has been added to the coffee (an error perhaps for people not used to thinking about specialty coffee).

Whatever flavour develops in specialty coffee (in other words, whichever notes are found in it) develops 100% naturally. The factors responsible for this are as follows: 

• First of all, different varieties of coffee have different characteristics. 

• The altitude, soil, climate, and farming techniques used also influence the flavour and aroma. 

• The method used to process the coffee cherry also plays a pivotal role. 

• The roast brings out different characteristics from the green beans. 

• Water, temperature, grind size, and extraction affect what you taste.  

Let’s say, for example, somebody tells you that a bag of coffee has “peach” or “caramel” notes; they aren’t telling you what’s in the coffee or what it is made of. Instead, they are helping you in understanding what that bag of coffee might remind you of.

Coffee Fragrance vs Coffee Flavour 

The great thing about coffee is that you begin to experience it through your nose, long before you have tasted it. Coffee fragrance refers to the aroma you notice from dry or freshly ground coffee, while aroma during and after brewing also contributes strongly to what we perceive as flavour. 

Here’s a simple way to think about it. 

How to Read Coffee Tasting Notes?

It would be understandable if a beginner thinks of coffee tasting notes as something complex. It might even put them off, and they might even end up not trying to master it. However, the notes are actually grouped into a few simple, familiar flavour categories.

Let’s talk a little about them. 

Fruity Notes 

These describe flavours that remind you of fruits. You might find: 

• Strawberry

• Blueberry

• Orange

• Peach

• Cherry

• Tropical fruit

Sweet Notes 

Sweetness can remind you of foods such as: 

• Caramel

• Honey

• Brown sugar

• Chocolate

• Toffee

• Molasses

Floral Notes 

Some coffees have delicate aromas that resemble flowers, such as jasmine, rose, or orange blossom. These notes are often associated with lighter roasts and certain coffee varieties and growing conditions.

What Does Acidity Mean in Coffee? 

Probably, this is the most misunderstood aspect of coffee taste: its acidity. People often think that it means that the coffee is either sour or unpleasant in taste. 

Actually, it describes a lively sensation (some people call it a bright sensation) that might remind one of apples, berries, or citrus.

You might experience: 

• Low acidity: Softer and rounder

• Medium acidity: Balanced and noticeable

• High acidity: Bright, crisp, and lively

Acidity is an important part of specialty coffee because it can add complexity and make different coffees taste distinctly different. 

Why Can the Same Coffee Taste Different?

Coffee is very surprising. Not everyone tastes the same flavours on the same lot of coffee. Your palate, the temperature of your coffee, and how it was brewed all play a role in your own coffee tasting experience. 

You don't need to be alarmed if you and your partner get different notes from the same lot of coffee, since it is a fairly personal experience where your palate also comes into play, alongside the factors we discussed.

How to Taste Coffee Like a Beginner?

The great thing about learning coffee tasting notes is that you can start without any equipment and just a bit of useful knowledge. 

• Begin by smelling the beans before they have undergone grinding and try to notice the fragrance. 

• You can also smell freshly ground coffee and try to identify any familiar aromas there. 

• Take a mindful sip of your cup of coffee and notice the coffee moving across your palate. 

• Before you try to identify flavours, try to determine factors like sweetness and acidity.  

• Compare different types of coffee and identify flavours or aromas that stand out to you. 

Armed with the right knowledge, some patience, and observation, we believe you'll find it quite manageable.

FAQs

1: Are coffee tasting notes actual flavours added to coffee?

No, nothing's been added; tasting notes are purely descriptive. They're just a way of putting into words what a coffee reminds you of, based on flavours you already know.

2: Why can't I taste the flavours listed on my coffee bag?

A few things could be at play here: your palate, brewing method, roast level, and even the coffee's temperature all shape what comes through. It's also completely normal to pick up on different notes than someone else drinking the same batch.

3: How can I get better at identifying coffee flavours?

You should look to begin by tasting a few different types of coffee together and try to feel the ways they are different. Also, it would be useful to start by identifying broader categories like floral, sweet, or fruity. 

Discover Coffee Beyond the Label

Let us repeat this: coffee tasting notes are not about getting to the right answer or some sort of quest. Instead, it is a simple method to understand the uniqueness of each type of coffee and learn more about your coffee experience. 

At Rossette Coffee Lab, that's what our specialty coffee is about: making this journey of exploration a little easier and a lot more enjoyable for you.