What Gives Coffee Beans Their Flavor?

When you purchase a bag of coffee, whether from a grocery store or a coffee roaster, you often notice tasting notes listed on the label, such as chocolate, nuts, fruits, flowers, and even burnt tones. Have you ever wondered how these flavors are determined?

To clarify, these flavors are not artificially added; they are the coffee bean’s natural characteristics. Similar to wine or beer, coffee can acquire its flavors from various factors, including its growing conditions, processing methods, roasting techniques, and brewing methods.

How Does Coffee Get Its Flavor?

Coffee is arguably one of the most complex foods we consume, containing over 1,500 chemical compounds. Here’s a look at what contributes to its intricate flavors and tastes.

1. Terrain: The land where coffee is grown significantly influences its flavor profile. Factors such as soil pH, precipitation levels, elevation, temperature, and sunlight all play a role in shaping the coffee’s taste. For instance, Kona coffee, cultivated in volcanic soil on the slopes of Mauna Kea, possesses a distinct flavor that sets it apart from other coffees.
2. Cultivation: Similar to terrain, the use of fertilizers and pesticides (if any) also affects the coffee’s flavor.
3. Variety: Just as there are different types of wine (like pinot noir and cabernet), coffee comes in various varieties, such as Bourbon and Gesha. Each variety has unique characteristics influenced by its growing conditions and cultivation methods.
4. Harvesting: As Brandon Damitz puts it, “Coffee is a fruit. What’s sweeter: green, unripe bananas or yellow, ripe bananas?” The ripeness of coffee cherries affects their flavor; well-ripened cherries tend to produce sweeter, cleaner, and smoother coffee, provided they are grown, harvested, processed, roasted, and brewed properly.
5. Processing: This is a crucial factor in determining flavor and aroma. Four primary processing techniques are used: washed, wet-hulled, honey, and natural. In general, natural processed coffees tend to taste juicy and syrupy, while washed processed coffees offer a clean and crisp flavor. Wet-hulled coffees are typically heavy-bodied, chocolatey, and nutty, and honey processed coffees have juicy, syrupy, and acidic notes.
6. Storage: The way coffee is stored can affect its flavor; over time, it tends to develop heavier and more musky flavors. Properly stored coffee can last 10-14 months before quality diminishes.
7. Roasting: There are three main roast levels: light, medium, and dark. Light roasts are usually brighter, fruity, and floral, while medium roasts provide a well-rounded flavor, ranging from chocolatey and nutty to fruity. Dark roasts tend to be more bitter and chocolatey.
8. Brewing: Numerous factors in the brewing process can significantly alter the taste of your coffee, including:
   • Grind: Both the size and consistency of the grind matter.
   • Water: Temperature, hardness/softness, and pH level all play a role.
   • Time: The length of time coffee is in contact with water affects flavor extraction.
   • Pressure: Different brewing methods, like espresso, AeroPress, mocha pots, or siphons, utilize varying pressure levels.
   • Type of Immersion: Methods like drip brewing or full immersion (e.g., French press) affect flavor.
   • Filtration: The type of filter used, or lack thereof, can also influence the final taste

What Do Tasting Notes Tell Us About Coffee?

Tasting notes provide a detailed description of a coffee’s flavor, aroma, and overall character. Once you identify the flavor notes that appeal to you, you can better understand the types of coffee you enjoy. These notes reveal a great deal about the region where the coffee was grown or processed, as different areas are renowned for specific flavor profiles. Additionally, tasting notes can indicate the coffee roast, as various roast levels have distinct taste characteristics.

Why Can’t I Taste Some of the Flavor Notes?

Taste is inherently subjective, and like any skill, developing your tasting abilities takes practice. You might recognize that a coffee has a “nutty” flavor, but is it hazelnut, almond, or peanut? Moreover, the person tasting alongside you may detect different flavors, as individual palates vary widely. For example, you can explore this variability with a blend that features notes of roasted nuts, cedar, and sweet herbs.

Flavors can also change based on climate conditions, much like how fruits from different regions may exhibit slightly different flavors due to variations in climate, soil, and other environmental factors.

How to Improve Your Coffee Tasting Skills

Tasting coffee is not a test but rather a way to compare and contrast different flavors. By learning to differentiate between coffee tastes, you can truly appreciate the unique nuances that each coffee has to offer.

Here are some effective ways to enhance your coffee tasting skills at home: engage in coffee cupping, practice using a flavor wheel, watch online tutorials, or participate in free tastings with a professional. With these methods, anyone can begin refining their tasting abilities from the comfort of their home.