HOW TO TASTE COFFEE LIKE AN EXPERT
You don’t need a certificate to start tasting coffee like a pro, just a curious palate and the right beans.
At Mighty Beast, we craft bold, intentional coffees full of character. But when we say a roast has notes of citrus, chocolate, or caramel, we don’t mean flavors were added in. These tasting notes are naturally developed through a bean’s origin, variety, and roasting process.
So what does that actually mean for your morning cup? Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Understand the Notes
Think of tasting notes like the hints of flavor you’d find in wine. No one’s adding orange slices or cocoa powder to the roast, it’s just how the bean expresses itself when grown, processed, and roasted a certain way.
For example:
- Citrus notes often come from high-altitude African coffees. They might remind you of lemon zest or orange peel.
- Chocolate flavors show up in many Central American coffees and taste like cocoa, not a candy bar.
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Berry, nutty, spicy, or floral? These are all part of the natural spectrum.
To help sharpen your senses, use the Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel. It’s a great visual tool to guide what you’re picking up, whether you’re sensing a general fruitiness or narrowing in on a specific flavor like blackcurrant or toasted almond.
Step 2: Use the Flavor Wheel
The Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel is a go-to tool for the pros. It helps break down what they’re tasting, from broad categories like fruity or chocolatey to specific notes like raspberry or dark cocoa. Try using it while you sip. Once you know what to look for, you’ll be surprised by what you start to notice. You can find the full wheel on the Specialty Coffee Association’s website or just search “Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel” to pull it up.
Step 3: Brew Consistently
To notice flavor differences, consistency is key. We recommend:
- Medium grind
- 1:16 ratio (1g coffee to 16g water)
- Water around 200°F
Try a pour-over or French press to bring out clarity and complexity. Skip the milk and sugar at first so you can taste the coffee as it is.
Step 4: Try a Quick At-Home Cupping
Want to taste coffee the way pros do? Here’s an easy version:
- Add 12g of medium-coarse coffee to a bowl
- Pour in 200g of hot water
- Let it sit for 4 minutes
- Break the crust, sniff deeply
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Slurp from a spoon to coat your tongue
Step 5: Track What You Taste
Grab a notebook or use your Notes app. Jot down:
- Origin / roast
- Brew method
- Flavors you notice
- Acidity (bright? mellow?)
- Body (light or heavy?)
- Finish (how long it lingers)
Over time, you’ll start to see patterns. Maybe you love juicy East African coffees or nutty Central Americans. That’s your taste talking.
Final Sip
Tasting coffee like an expert isn’t about fancy words or certifications. It’s about slowing down, tuning in, and learning what makes a coffee bold, bright, or just plain wild. At Mighty Beast, we’re all about that deeper connection between people, flavor, and the cup in your hands.
