Mastering tasting notes: A guide for coffee lovers

published on October 03, 2019 — by Marc-Alexandre Emond-Boisjoly — 6 mins of reading —


Have you ever wondered what the tasting notes on a bag of coffee really mean? At 94 celcius Montreal coffee roasters, we often receive questions on this subject, especially from those looking for the best coffee beans. If terms like "fruity" or "milk chocolate" appear on our packaging, it doesn't mean that artificial flavours have been added. On the contrary, these flavours develop naturally through a precise process of cultivation, processing and roasting.

Préparation d'une dégustation de café avec une bouilloire d'eau chaude

How flavors develop in coffee

Coffee is one of the most chemically complex of beverages. As it roasts, thousands of aromatic compounds are released, creating a variety of flavors. For example, if you detect a "strawberry" note in your coffee, what you're tasting are compounds similar to those present in a real strawberry.

The flavours that appear on our bags are the result of the growing region, the bean processing method and the roasting profile. At 94 CelciusOur team of experienced tasters carefully taste each coffee and select the three most obvious flavors at the end of each cupping session, a rigorous tasting process.

Understanding the main tasting notes

To properly choose and enjoy your coffee, it is essential to know how to recognize and interpret the TASTING NOTES. Here are the five categories most commonly used to describe a specialty coffee :

  1. Softness Contrary to popular belief, high-quality coffee is often naturally sweet. This can range from fruity sweetness to caramel or honey. The fresher and better-grown the coffee, the more pronounced the sweetness.
  2. Body The coffee's mouthfeel, its weight on the tongue. A coffee can be light and delicate or, conversely, rich and heavy. The choice of preparation method and the dose used also strongly influence the body of the coffee.
  3. Acidity Although often misunderstood, acidity in coffee is a sought-after quality. It adds vivacity and dimension. A coffee can have a light acidity, reminiscent of melon, or a brighter one, reminiscent of lemon.
  4. Notes Specific notes, whether fruity, chocolatey or floral, add to a coffee's charm. Take the time to identify these aromas. The more you taste and practice, the more you'll be able to discern them.
  5. Final The way a coffee lingers on the palate after drinking is also important. A finish can be short or long, smooth or rougher. It's often this sensation that makes you want another cup.
Deux baristas de Montreal qui goûte du café lors d'une dégustation organisé chez 94 ceclis

How to develop your coffee tasting skills

Recognizing and describing coffee flavors is not just for experts. It's perfectly possible for any coffee lover to develop their palate. Here are a few tips for perfecting your tasting skills:

  • Use a flavor wheel This tool helps to describe coffee flavors by offering a common vocabulary, based on aromas you already know. If you're unfamiliar with a flavor, just go to the market and taste it for a reference.
  • Compare different coffees A great way to train your palate is to taste two coffees side by side. By comparing a coffee with fruity notes to one with chocolate notes, for example, you'll start to get a better idea of the differences.
  • Practice regularly With each cup of coffee, take a moment to think about the flavors you experience. Is it sweet or bitter? What impact does the preparation method have on the flavor? The more consciously you taste, the more your understanding of aromas develops.

Why choose our coffee beans?

Visit Montreal coffee roasters have a reputation for producing exceptional coffees. At 94 CelciusWe make it a point of honour to select high-quality coffee beans and roast them with precision to extract the very best. Our coffees come from direct relationships with passionate producers, guaranteeing traceability and a commitment to ethical, sustainable production.

If you're looking for best coffee beans for your everyday life, our richly flavored options will offer you a unique experience, whether you're a fan of fruity, floral or chocolate notes.

Don't settle for ordinary coffee. Explore our selection of coffee beans on our website and discover exceptional products, carefully roasted to awaken your taste buds and enrich your coffee experience.

Tags: Barista Café de spécialité Café Montréal Torréfacteur
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