Taste Palette
Like wine, coffee offers a wide range of flavor profiles that can vary depending on factors such as origin, processing methods, and roast level. In this post, we’ll dive into the different flavor profiles you can discover in coffee, based on the six main categories represented by the Flavor Wheel: Fresh Fruit, Nutty, Sweet Fruit, Floral, Chocolate, and Spicy. These are the six flavors we use to segment coffee, and they help us understand and appreciate the unique qualities of each coffee.
In addition to these positive flavor categories, there are also negative byproducts that can sometimes emerge in coffee. These unwanted flavors are caused by imperfections in production, storage, or preparation and are divided into categories such as sour/fermented, green/vegetable, chemical, and other. Examples of these are sour notes such as vinegar, chemical flavors such as petroleum, and vegetal flavors such as grass, which can give the coffee an unpleasant character. We want to avoid these byproducts in order to provide a pure and balanced coffee experience.
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Nuts
Shop nutritious coffeeCoffees with a nutty flavor are reminiscent of almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts. These flavors are subtle and give the coffee a creamy mouthfeel with a soft, round taste. This profile is often found in medium roasted coffees from regions such as Brazil and Central America.
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Fresh Fruit
Shop fresh fruity coffeeCoffees with a fresh, fruity flavor are often lively and bright, with notes of citrus fruits like orange, lemon, or lime. This refreshing acidity creates a vibrant flavor experience. This profile is typical of lightly roasted coffees, primarily from Africa.
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Chocolate
Shop chocolate coffeeChocolate-flavored coffees offer a rich, full flavor with notes of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or cocoa powder. This profile adds a sweet undertone to the coffee and is typical of coffees from Latin America, such as Brazil. These beans are often roasted medium to dark.
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Sweet Fruit
Shop sweet fruity coffeeThese coffees boast sweet, juicy flavors reminiscent of ripe berries, cherries, or stone fruits like peach and apricot. Their full, fruity taste makes them appealing to those who prefer a sweet flavor profile. This is often found in light to medium roast coffees from countries like Colombia.
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Spicy
Shop spicy coffeeCoffees with a spicy flavor have notes that are reminiscent of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, or pepper. These flavors add depth and complexity to the coffee. This profile is often found in coffees from Asia, such as Indonesia, and is usually found in dark roasted coffees.
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Floral
Shop floral coffeeFloral coffees have delicate, floral notes, similar to jasmine, lavender or roses. These subtle flavours create a refined and aromatic coffee experience. Coffees from Ethiopia, especially from the Yirgacheffe region, are known for their floral character and are usually lightly roasted.