Coffee Flavours: Understanding the Coffee Flavour Wheel

May 2, 2024

Introduction

Coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s an experience. The richness, complexity, and variety of coffee flavours are what make it so enjoyable and fascinating. Whether you're a seasoned coffee connoisseur or just starting your coffee journey, understanding coffee flavours can elevate your appreciation of the beverage.

In this blog, we’ll delve into the world of coffee flavours, introduce you to the Coffee Flavour Wheel, and explain how this essential tool can help you discover new tastes and enhance your coffee experience.

The Complexity of Coffee Flavours

Coffee flavours are incredibly diverse. Just like wine or tea, coffee has a vast array of tastes and aromas that depend on various factors such as the origin of the beans, the roasting process, and the brewing method. When you taste a cup of coffee, you’re not just tasting one flavour, but rather a combination of complex and layered tastes that can include anything from fruity and floral to nutty, chocolatey, or even spicy notes.

Understanding these flavours can be challenging, which is why tools like the Coffee Flavour Wheel are so useful. This wheel allows you to break down and categorise the different aromas and tastes that are present in coffee, making it easier for you to identify and appreciate the full range of flavours in every cup.

Introducing the Coffee Flavour Wheel

The Coffee Flavour Wheel is a visual tool that breaks down the flavour profile of coffee into categories. Developed by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and a group of coffee professionals, it was designed to help people in the coffee industry and enthusiasts alike better understand and communicate the flavours they experience when tasting coffee.

The wheel is divided into several key categories that describe the flavour characteristics of coffee. Each category is further broken down into more specific flavours, allowing coffee drinkers to precisely identify the notes they are tasting. The main categories on the wheel include:

Fruity: This includes a wide range of flavours, from berries to citrus, and everything in between.
Floral: These are delicate and sweet aromas, often reminiscent of flowers like jasmine, lavender, or rose.
Nutty: Nutty flavours can range from almond and hazelnut to peanut and cashew.
Sweet: This category focuses on sweet, sugary tastes like caramel, chocolate, and molasses.
Savory: These flavours can be reminiscent of spices, herbs, or even vegetable-like tastes.
Other: A catch-all category for more unique or hard-to-describe flavours.

By using the Coffee Flavour Wheel, coffee enthusiasts can develop a more nuanced understanding of the flavours in their coffee, allowing them to communicate their preferences more effectively and appreciate the subtle complexities that different coffees have to offer.

How the Coffee Flavour Wheel Was Developed

The Coffee Flavour Wheel was created by a group of coffee professionals led by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) in collaboration with scientists and sensory analysts. The initial version of the wheel was developed in the early 1990s, and since then, it has been revised and expanded to accommodate the growing understanding of coffee flavours and aromas.

The development of the wheel was based on years of research into sensory analysis and how humans perceive taste and smell. Researchers from the coffee industry and academia worked together to build a universal vocabulary for describing the various attributes of coffee. The goal was to create a tool that would help standardise coffee tasting, making it easier for roasters, baristas, and coffee drinkers to communicate their experiences and share their findings.

Since its creation, the Coffee Flavour Wheel has become a widely adopted tool in the coffee industry, helping both professionals and consumers better understand the richness of coffee flavours.

Try the interactive Coffee Flavour Wheel below to dive into each element. Charts can be purchased directly from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).

Source: Not Bad Coffee, https://notbadcoffee.com/flavor-wheel-en/

Features of the Coffee Flavour Wheel

The Coffee Flavour Wheel has several key features that make it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to deepen their coffee knowledge:

Clear Visual Representation: The wheel is designed in a circular format, with the broader categories placed in the outer rings and more specific flavours radiating inward. This structure helps users easily identify the different flavour components and how they relate to each other.
Comprehensive Flavour Categories: The Coffee Flavour Wheel breaks down flavours into easily digestible categories like fruity, floral, nutty, and sweet, which cover a broad spectrum of coffee tastes. This categorisation makes it easier for people to pinpoint what they’re tasting in a coffee.
International Applicability: The Coffee Flavour Wheel is widely used around the world. It offers a standardised language for describing coffee flavours, helping to unite coffee enthusiasts globally in their appreciation of the beverage.
Developed by Experts: The wheel was created with input from professionals in the coffee industry, making it a reliable and trusted tool for both newcomers and experienced coffee tasters.
Educational Resource: It’s not just a tool for tasting coffee—it’s also an educational resource. By using the Coffee Flavour Wheel, you can learn more about coffee’s complexities, which will deepen your understanding of how different factors (like region, roast level, and brewing method) affect flavour.

Using the Coffee Flavour Wheel at myroast™

At myroast™, we believe that understanding coffee flavours is an essential part of the coffee experience. That’s why we seek to offer a wide selection of coffees from independent roasters, each with their own distinct flavour profiles.

Our Bean Guide and Roast Guide provide helpful information on the flavour notes of various coffees, giving you the knowledge to explore and appreciate the flavours that match your personal preferences.

You can now explore our range of coffee and filter by these various flavours to find unique offerings suited to your taste profile.

Whether you're in the mood for a fruity, bright Ethiopian coffee, a nutty Brazilian blend, or a floral Colombian roast, the Coffee Flavour Wheel can help guide you to the perfect selection. With our filtering options, discovering the flavours you love has never been easier.

Explore the flavour options at myroast™ today! Your can do this by browsing the preferred flavour below, or filter in the Shop!

Explore myroast™ and Make it Your Roast!

Coffee flavours are complex, but with tools like the Coffee Flavour Wheel, they become more accessible and enjoyable to explore. Whether you’re just starting your coffee journey or you’re an experienced taster, the wheel is an invaluable tool that helps you better understand and articulate the flavours in your cup.

At myroast™, we encourage you to dive deeper into the world of coffee by using the Coffee Flavour Wheel, exploring our guides, and tasting a wide variety of coffee. Start your flavour journey today and discover the unique tastes that make every cup of coffee special.

Additional Resources

Frequently Asked Questions: Access detailed FAQs for both customers and suppliers on our website.
Guides: Explore our guides, including the Bean Guide, Roast Guide, Grind Guide, and Brew Guides.
Customer Resources: Learn and appreciate the art and science of coffee, discover more at our pages, including Unlock the Secrets and Getting Started.