Unlocking the Flavor Wheel: Tasting Notes Explained

Unlocking the Flavor Wheel: Tasting Notes Explained

If you’ve ever noticed tasting notes like “cherry,” “chocolate,” or “floral” on a coffee label, you may wonder how coffee can taste like anything other than coffee. These tasting notes reflect the unique flavors that beans can express based on factors like origin, processing, and roasting. Here’s a guide to understanding coffee tasting notes and how to start appreciating them in your own cup.

1. The Coffee Flavor Wheel

The Coffee Flavor Wheel, developed by the Specialty Coffee Association, is a tool to help describe the wide range of flavors coffee can offer. From sweet and fruity to rich and nutty, the wheel includes tasting notes that help coffee lovers and professionals articulate a coffee’s flavor profile, making it easier to identify and appreciate a coffee’s unique characteristics.

2. How Tasting Notes Are Determined

Professional coffee tasters, known as cuppers, use a process called “cupping” to evaluate each coffee’s aroma, acidity, body, and flavor. These experts consider the unique characteristics of each coffee, and the tasting notes are based on the flavors they detect. Factors influencing these flavors include:

• Origin: Coffee’s growing region influences its flavor. For instance, Ethiopian coffees are often fruity and floral, while Brazilian coffees tend to have nutty, chocolatey notes.

• Processing Method: The way beans are processed affects their flavor. Natural-processed coffees often taste fruity, while washed coffees bring out brighter, cleaner flavors.

• Roasting Style: Light roasts often emphasize a coffee’s natural flavors, while darker roasts can introduce deeper, caramelized notes.

3. Common Tasting Notes and What They Mean

Here’s a quick guide to a few common tasting notes and what they signify:

• Fruity: Often found in African coffees, fruity notes (like berry or citrus) bring a vibrant acidity to the cup.

• Nutty and Chocolaty: Common in Latin American coffees, these notes provide a smooth, balanced flavor.

• Floral: Notes like jasmine and rose are delicate and fragrant, often giving the coffee a tea-like quality.

• Spicy: Cinnamon, clove, and similar flavors can add warmth and complexity, often found in coffees from regions like Indonesia.

4. Tasting Coffee for Yourself

To start exploring tasting notes, try tasting coffee with a mindful approach. Smell the coffee before sipping to pick up on its aroma, then take a small sip and let it sit on your tongue. Over time, you may find yourself noticing the unique characteristics in different coffees, and each cup can become a new tasting adventure.

Start with ours!

Leave a comment on Unlocking the Flavor Wheel: Tasting Notes Explained

From Bean to Brew: How Coffee is Made.

Hey there fellow travelers!

Coffee is more than just a morning ritual—it’s the result of a complex journey that begins thousands of miles away on coffee farms. Each step in the process, from harvesting to roasting, is crucial to the flavors we enjoy in our cups. Here’s a quick guide to how coffee gets from bean to brew.

1. The Coffee Cherry: Where It All Starts

Coffee starts as a small cherry on trees that thrive in warm, high-altitude climates. Each cherry contains two seeds, which we know as coffee beans. Farmers wait for the cherries to ripen to a deep red before hand-picking or using specialized equipment to harvest them.

2. Processing: Turning Cherries into Beans

Once harvested, the cherries go through one of several processing methods, which play a big role in the coffee’s flavor. Two main methods are:

• Washed Process: The cherries are depulped to remove the skin and fruit, then fermented to dissolve any remaining pulp. This method brings out cleaner, more acidic flavors.

• Natural Process: The cherries are dried with the fruit still attached, infusing the beans with fruity and often sweeter flavors. This process is common in areas with limited water resources.

3. Roasting: Bringing Out Flavor

After processing, beans are dried and shipped to roasters worldwide. Roasting is both an art and a science, transforming the green beans into the fragrant, flavorful coffee we recognize. Lighter roasts tend to highlight origin flavors, such as fruity or floral notes, while darker roasts emphasize bolder, richer flavors.

4. Grinding and Brewing: The Final Touches

For the best flavor, coffee beans should be ground right before brewing. Different brewing methods call for specific grind sizes—for example, espresso requires a fine grind, while a French press works best with a coarse grind. Water temperature, brewing time, and even the type of water used can also impact the final flavor. Our recommended brewing method and forever favorite is the pour-over method.

Enjoying the Journey

The next time you savor a cup of coffee, take a moment to think about its journey. Every sip is a celebration of the people and processes behind it—from the farmers and roasters to the brewing techniques that bring out the best flavors. Coffee is a story in every cup, let your taste buds roam while you do!

Leave a comment on From Bean to Brew: How Coffee is Made.

The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Perfect Coffee While Traveling

As a coffee lover and a nomadic traveler, there’s nothing quite like starting your day with a perfect cup of coffee, no matter where you are in the world. Whether you’re exploring bustling city streets or serene natural landscapes, brewing your own coffee can bring a touch of familiarity and luxury to your travels. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials of brewing the perfect cup of coffee while on the go, ensuring you never have to compromise on quality or flavor.

1. Choosing the Right Travel Coffee Equipment:

   – Compact and Portable Coffee Makers: AeroPress, French Press, or Pour-Over

   – Travel-Sized Electric Coffee Grinders

   – Insulated Travel Mugs and Tumblers

For your coffee maker, we prefer an AeroPress or a Chemex coffee maker. The AeroPress after brewing, turns your coffee grounds into a perfect little puck with no mess. Using a Chemex, you can always use a biodegradable filter along with the mesh strainer that comes with it. Yes, it does take a bit longer but, the added benefit of patience is that the coffee flavors will be much more pronounced.

We recommend 25 – 35 grams of coffee to 600 grams of water (20oz).

Feel free to adjust these measurements to find your desired level of flavor!

(please do your best to be mindful of your surroundings and research “no trace ethics”) dispose of your coffee grounds properly. And consider using apple cider vinegar as a substitute for harsh cleaners.

2. Selecting High-Quality Coffee Beans:

   – Opting for Single-Origin or Specialty Blends (we sell both!)

   – Considering Coffee Bean Preservation Techniques. Keeping them in a cool dark space and in an air-tight container as instructed by the national coffee association is the best way to go! That’s why our bags come equipt with a valve and ziplock seal.

4. Packing Essentials for Coffee Brewing:

   – Coffee Beans or Ground Coffee: Measuring and Storing

   – Filters, Grinders, and Other Brewing Accessories

   – Water Source Considerations and Travel-Friendly Kettles

 – And of course you can’t forget your favorite mug! If you don’t have one, that’s okay! We’ve made four different kinds of coffee mugs available to you!

5. Exploring Flavor Profiles:

   – Tasting Notes and Flavor Profiles of Different Coffee Origins

   – Experimenting with Coffee Roasts and Blends

   – Enhancing Flavors with Spices, Syrups, or Additives. You want to be careful with powdered and liquid creamers. If not stored properly, it could make a brutal mess on those bumpy rides.

6. Sustainable Practices:

   – Using Reusable Filters and Eco-Friendly Brewing Methods

   – Supporting Fair Trade and Ethically Sourced Coffee, Proper Waste Disposal and Leave-No-Trace Principles

With the right equipment, high-quality beans, and a dash of creativity, brewing perfect coffee while traveling is within your reach. By following this guide, you can elevate your coffee experience, infuse your travels with a touch of luxury, and savor the flavors of different cultures, one cup at a time. So, pack your favorite brewing essentials and embark on a journey of coffee exploration wherever you roam!

Leave a comment on The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Perfect Coffee While Traveling
Contact Us

Join the Journey: Sign Up For Our Newsletter

    Back to top