You need to have a basic understanding of coffee terminology before you can begin your journey as a coffee connoisseur. Even if your dream is not to be a coffee tester it is still important to know the different nuances of coffee and how they are described. This will give you more insight into your favorite coffees and how to find others that taste like them. You'll also know what your coffee roaster is talking about when they are describing their coffee.
Here is a list of terms: Acidity, Aroma, Body, Finish, Flavor.
Acidity:
What it means?
Green coffee beans have a natural amount of acidity (pH) to them. Different regions and growing methods have a pronounced affect on the amount of acidity within the bean. Higher elevations and mineral rich soil can produce higher amounts of acidity.
What it tastes like?
Acidity gives coffee its dry, crisp and almost sweet after taste. It's experienced on the edges and the back of your tongue. A bean that has the correct amount of acidity will give it an aromatic floral flavor with a sweet tasting finish. A bean with poor acidity will have a tart almost grass like taste with a sour unpleasant finish.
Alternative Names
Acidity is described in a multitude of ways. The next time your roaster describes it as bright, lively, dry, crisp, sweet, winey, vibrant or sharp they are referring to the level of acidity within the coffee. Because the word acidity has negative connotations associated with it roasters will often shy away from this word when describing their coffee.
Aroma:
What it means?
Simply put aroma refers to the smell of the coffee. It can be perceived either nasally or retronasally (the way it smells when it is in your mouth). Acidity and flavor will be interpreted by the smell as much as it will be by the taste. Aroma is accountable for all of the attributes that aren't perceived by the tongue (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and the body).
What it tastes like?
Aroma makes up all the complexities of the coffee that aren't experienced on the palate. A coffee with high acidity will smell highly acidic. A coffee with full notes of flavor will smell strong of its flavor. Aroma is best used to describe the experience of it before it's tasted and then again used to describe the flavor after it's been tasted.
Alternative Names
Aroma is described in a multitude of ways. The aroma can be described as the smell, notes, and experience of the coffee.
Body:
What it means?
Coffee has naturally occurring oils trapped within the bean. Different regions, growing methods, and roasting times will cause these oils to become more pronounced within the bezn. The oil in coffee gives it 'body' which can be interpreted as the feeling it imparts on your mouth.
What it tastes like?
Body is more of a sensation than a flavor. There is a scale in which body is measured in coffee. The lighter and thinner the coffee feels in your mouth the less body it has. A coffee with a low bodied flavor would have the same consistency as water. The oilier and thicker it feels in your mouth the more body it has. A coffee with a full bodied flavor feels like it coats your mouth and tongue and lingers well after you have consumed it.
Alternative Names
The next time your coffee is described as rich, full flavored, oily, thick, and heavy they are referring to the fullness of body within the coffee. On the other hand if it is described as light or thin they are referring to the lack of body within the coffee.
Finish
What it means?
Finish refers to the finality of the coffee. It is used to describe how it tastes after it has been consumed.
What it tastes like?
The finish of coffee can change greatly depending on the coffee. Different regions, growing conditions, and roasts all attribute to the finish of the coffee. Some coffees grow in flavor in this finish and others will simply fall flat. The experience of the finish can also be described in body and aroma as well as taste. The finish is an important part of the overall experience of the coffee.
Alternative Names
The finish of the coffee is most accurately described as 'finish' but also may be termed as finality or other variations of the word finish.
Flavor:
What it means?
Flavor is the all encompassing qualities of the coffee that can't be described simply by aroma, body, or acidity. It is, in a way, generalizing the overall coffee tasting experience.
What it tastes like?
The flavor of coffee is broad in definition and can only be truly experienced when drinking the coffee. There are specific flavors that are sought after in different growing regions and roasts. You can taste the flavor in the coffee by the overall experience of the coffee.
Alternative Names
Flavor can be defined by richness, complexion, balance, and range. The richness of the coffee refers to body, flavor, and acidity of the coffee. Complexion describes the coffee as it undergoes changes in flavor. The balance refers to a coffees ability to hold its flavor. The range describes the area in which the coffee has its true flavor.
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