Coffee Flavor Wheel
Explore the diverse flavor profiles of specialty coffee and learn to identify tasting notes in your cup.
How to use this flavor wheel: Click on any flavor category or specific note below to learn more about it. The coffee flavor wheel helps you develop your palate and communicate what you taste.
Pro tip: When tasting coffee, start with broad categories (fruity, sweet, floral) then narrow down to specific notes. Not everyone will taste the same flavors - your palate is unique!
Fruity
4 flavor notes
Sweet
4 flavor notes
Floral
3 flavor notes
Nutty
2 flavor notes
Spices
2 flavor notes
Earthy
3 flavor notes
Roasted
2 flavor notes
Other
2 flavor notes
Fruity Flavors
Sweet Flavors
Floral Flavors
Nutty Flavors
Spices Flavors
Earthy Flavors
Roasted Flavors
Other Flavors
Tips for Developing Your Palate
Tasting Techniques:
- •Start by smelling the dry grounds, then the wet grounds after brewing
- •Take a slurping sip to aerate the coffee across your entire palate
- •Note your first impression, then how the flavor evolves as it cools
- •Compare different coffees side-by-side to identify differences
- •Keep a tasting journal to track flavors you detect
Common Associations:
- •African coffees: Fruity, floral, bright acidity
- •Central American: Balanced, chocolate, nutty, citrus
- •South American: Sweet, nutty, chocolate, caramel
- •Indonesian: Earthy, herbal, full-bodied, low acidity
- •Light roasts: More origin flavors, higher acidity, floral/fruity
- •Dark roasts: More roast flavors, lower acidity, chocolate/smoky