Coffee And Culture - How to Taste Coffee
The myriad subtle flavors of Specialty Grade Coffees are hidden when milk and sugar. Although you may find that you still prefer it with milk and sugar, we recommend exploring all the flavor notes that can be found in your coffee cup.
Flavor
Coffee will of course be the predominate flavor in a cup, but many Specialty Grade Coffees go beyond and have flavor notes ranging from cocoa, fruits, nuts or grain. Adding milk will hide these subtle flavors.
Acidity
Believe it not, acidity is a good thing. In fact, it is prized by most coffee experts. Not to be confused with bitterness like in tonic water or aspirin, acidity is the pleasant sensation found in wines, citrus, and even in black teas. Acidity makes coffee lively, changing profile as cup temperature cools. Some of the best and most expensive coffees in the world have the most complex and dynamic acidity.
Why don’t we use dark roasts for varietals?
A good roast level should aid the flavor profile of the bean. Dark roasts reduce those delicate flavors desired from good beans. Taste the coffee not the carbon.
How to Taste Coffee!
1. Smell
Slowly smell close to the cup, then away. Coffee's aromatic compounds have different weights and travel accordingly. Aroma accounts for most of coffee's flavor.
2. Sip, Swallow, Think!
Acidity:
Think about the sensation on the tongue and your reaction. Is it pleasant? How intense is it? What else gives you that impression? Dried lemons, grapefruit, red apples, glass of wine? Playing around with the duration between sip and swallow.
Body:
How's the viscosity/thickness/weight/mouth feeling? "Body" is the oily feel of coffee. Measure it between the tongue and the roof of the mouth. It can range from light body to full or heavy body.
Flavor:
This is subjective since we have different number of flavor receptors on the tongue. But if you detect the taste of blueberries in your cup and others can as well, then that description becomes validated.
Aftertaste:
Does the taste linger? How positive are those lasting notes?
Balance:
Does the acidity, body and flavor work well together? In other words, do you like it?
3. Repeat
Continue these steps and develop a standard tasting technique. As coffee approaches room temperature, the flavor profile changes.
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