Hello, I’m Harry!
One of the most important elements when enjoying coffee is the tasting notes. This information, often found on coffee packages, describes the flavors and aromas of the coffee. Today, we’ll explore how to interpret coffee tasting notes using the SCA Coffee Flavor Wheel. This wheel organizes the main categories of coffee flavors, helping you understand the diverse taste profiles of coffee.
What is the SCA Coffee Flavor Wheel?
The SCA Coffee Flavor Wheel is a tool that visually represents various coffee flavors and aromas, divided into categories. The wheel starts with broad categories at the center and becomes more specific towards the outer edges. The main categories are Roasted, Spices, Nutty/Cocoa, Sweet, Floral, Fruity, Sour, and Green/Vegetative.
Understanding the Main Categories of Tasting Notes
- Roasted
- Definition: Flavors resulting from the roasting process, including toasted or burnt notes.
- Example: A coffee with a ‘roasted’ note might have a scent similar to roasted nuts.
- Spices
- Definition: Flavors related to spices found in coffee.
- Example: Notes of ‘cinnamon’ or ‘clove’ fall under the ‘spices’ category.
- Nutty/Cocoa
- Definition: Includes flavors of nuts and chocolate.
- Example: Tastes like ‘walnut’ or ‘dark chocolate’ are part of this category.
- Sweet
- Definition: Flavors that bring out sweetness in coffee.
- Example: Notes of ‘caramel’ or ‘brown sugar’ belong to the ‘sweet’ category.
- Floral
- Definition: Flavors related to flowers.
- Example: Aromas such as ‘jasmine’ or ‘lavender’ are included in ‘floral’.
- Fruity
- Definition: Describes fruit-like flavors in coffee.
- Example: Flavors like ‘blueberry’ or ‘orange’ are part of the ‘fruity’ category.
- Sour
- Definition: Indicates acidic or tangy flavors in coffee.
- Example: Notes of ‘lemon’ or ‘wine’ fall under ‘sour’.
- Green/Vegetative
- Definition: Flavors related to raw or plant-like notes.
- Example: Tastes like ‘grass’ or ‘herb’ are part of the ‘green/vegetative’ category.
Understanding Other Elements of Tasting Notes
While the SCA Flavor Wheel mainly covers flavors and aromas, there are other important aspects to consider when evaluating coffee. Here’s a look at these elements:
- Body
- Definition: The sensation of weight and texture of the coffee in your mouth.
- Interpretation: A ‘full-bodied’ coffee feels rich and creamy, while a ‘light-bodied’ coffee feels lighter and cleaner.
- Aftertaste
- Definition: The flavor that remains in your mouth after drinking coffee.
- Interpretation: A ‘long’ aftertaste means the flavor lingers, while a ‘clean’ aftertaste means the flavor disappears without unpleasant notes.
- Balance
- Definition: How well the various flavor elements are harmonized in the coffee.
- Interpretation: A well-balanced coffee has harmonious notes of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness.
The SCA Coffee Flavor Wheel is copyrighted, so I can’t include an image here, but you can easily find it online. If you’re new to coffee, this tool will help you understand and explore the many flavors and aromas coffee has to offer.
Over the past few posts, we’ve discussed how to interpret the profile stickers on Q.lab coffee packages. I hope this helps you find your perfect coffee more easily and enjoyably.
Visit Q.lab to explore your own coffee world!
Thank you.
