QUESTION: What notes should I look for in coffee? I usually drink medium roast. I’m just getting into learning more about coffee and am a relative beginner. – Blake R
CLEARLY COFFEE REPLIES: Medium roast coffee lovers unite! That’s also my favorite. Medium roast is a fantastic choice as it allows for a balance of flavor, acidity, and body.
When it comes to coffee notes, it’s all about personal preference. Here’s a quick guide to help you find your perfect medium roast coffee:
Fruitiness: Look for coffees with fruity notes if you enjoy a touch of natural sweetness and bright acidity. African coffees, such as Ethiopian or Kenyan beans, often exhibit berry, citrus, or tropical fruit flavors.
Chocolate and caramel: For a more balanced taste, consider coffees with notes of chocolate or caramel. These flavors can bring a delightful smoothness and sweetness without overpowering the coffee’s natural character. Central American coffees, like those from Costa Rica or Guatemala, often boast such flavors.
Nuttiness: If you’re a fan of nutty flavors, coffees with almond, hazelnut, or walnut notes might be just the thing for you. South American coffees, especially Brazilian and Colombian beans, are known for these undertones.
Earthiness and spice: For a more complex and unique experience, try coffees with earthy or spicy notes. Indonesian coffees, such as those from Sumatra, can bring flavors like cinnamon, cloves, or even a touch of smokiness.
Floral: If you prefer something delicate and aromatic, look for coffees with floral notes like jasmine, honeysuckle, or rose. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or some Central American beans can provide these elegant nuances.
A lot of more mainstream types of medium roast coffees usually have chocolate and caramel notes, and nutty notes, which is what I personally like best.
When you get the fruitier and more floral notes, it’s often a fancier “specialty coffee” like the kind you find in a high end coffee shop where they make pour over coffees. Those notes are also sometimes just referred to as “sour” tasting, particularly when there are citrus notes.
Remember, your palate is unique, and it’s all about discovering what you enjoy most. Don’t hesitate to explore different coffee origins, processing methods, and brewing techniques to find your ideal medium roast coffee experience.
We talked about the tasting notes, but body and mouthfeel are also aspects of the coffee experience and play a significant role in how we perceive those notes. Body refers to the coffee’s weight or heaviness on the palate, while mouthfeel describes the texture and consistency of the brew. A coffee with a light body might feel delicate and tea-like, whereas a full-bodied coffee may be thick and robust.
Body and mouthfeel can impact the way tasting notes are experienced. For instance, a full-bodied coffee with chocolate notes might feel velvety and rich, amplifying the sensation of savoring a piece of chocolate. On the other hand, a light-bodied coffee with fruity notes might feel crisp and refreshing, allowing the bright acidity and fruit flavors to truly shine.
As you try different coffees, paying attention to the body and mouthfeel will add another dimension to your appreciation of the diverse flavors and sensations that each brew offers. So, don’t just focus on the tasting notes themselves; consider how the body and mouthfeel contribute to a harmonious and delightful coffee experience.
I like a full-bodied coffee, personally, and lean toward drinking Americanos over drip coffee because I also like the added mouthfeel that comes with some crema on top of the coffee. But hey, that’s just what I like.
When you look at bags of coffee beans, they sometimes describe the tasting notes. So pay attention to the notes you like when you buy a new bag of coffee and love it. And pay attention when you buy a bag that you don’t like too, because you can learn to avoid those notes like I try to avoid fruity.