Flavour, aroma and mouthfeel – learning to taste your coffee like never before
How flavour notes, aroma, and mouthfeel come together to shape your coffee experience.
It’s easy to know when a cup of coffee hits the spot. It’s rich, comforting, and somehow just right.
But have you ever paused to think why it tastes that way? What gives a certain coffee its chocolatey warmth and another a bright, citrus zing?
The answer lies in three core elements: flavour notes, aroma, and mouthfeel. Together, these elements create the full sensory experience of your daily brew!
Let’s take a closer look at what they are, and how you can start recognising them in your own cup.
Flavour notes: The hidden language of coffee
Flavour notes are the subtle, naturally occurring tastes – not added flavours or syrups – found in coffee. These flavours come from the bean’s origin, the way it was processed, how it was roasted, and how it is brewed. Expect to detect hints of flavour that include berries, nuts, chocolate, citrus, caramel, or even spices such as cinnamon or clove.
It’s a bit like wine. No blueberries are added, but your palate picks up that impression. Coffee works the same way.
Over time, trained tasters have developed tools, amongst others the Coffee Taster’s Flavour Wheel, to categorise these notes. These tools offer in-depth insight into the flavour of coffee. However, there is no need to have expert knowledge to experience the flavour of your coffee. It’s as easy as just starting to pay attention to what your tastebuds are telling you!
Aroma: The first clue
Long before your first sip, your sense of smell is already involved. Aroma is often the first impression we get of a coffee, and it plays a powerful role in how we perceive flavour.
Take a moment to smell the ground coffee – that’s the dry aroma – before brewing. Then smell it again – the wet aroma – once it’s brewed. You might start to notice floral notes, nuttiness, a touch of spice, or something sweet and caramel-like.
It’s worth slowing down your coffee routine to savour this step. Much of what we taste actually comes through our sense of smell.
Mouthfeel: Texture you can taste
While aroma and flavour hit your senses upfront, mouthfeel is about how the coffee feels in your mouth.
Is it light and tea-like, or full-bodied and creamy? Smooth and velvety, or a little gritty around the edges?
Mouthfeel is shaped by everything from the type of bean to the grind size and brew method. An espresso will often feel rich and syrupy, while a pour-over might be cleaner and lighter. Neither is better. It’s all about what you personally enjoy.
Putting it all together: The full coffee experience
Flavour, aroma and mouthfeel combine to create the true character of a coffee. Each element enhances the others. A fruity aroma may lead into a bright, citrusy flavour, finished with a crisp, clean mouthfeel. Or a nutty aroma might hint at a chocolatey, smooth-bodied cup that lingers pleasantly.
The more you tune into these elements, the more enjoyable – and more personal – your coffee experience becomes.
How to start tasting (without overthinking it)
You don’t need to be a trained barista or coffee expert to start noticing these things. Here’s how to begin:
- Take in the aroma before you sip. Try to name what you pick up. Floral, toasty, earthy?
- Take small sips and let the coffee rest on your tongue. Is it fruity, nutty, sweet or sour?
- Notice the mouthfeel. Is it heavy or light? Smooth or a bit gritty?
- Compare two coffees brewed from different beans side-by-side. You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to spot differences this way!
- Write down your impressions. There are no wrong answers. Your taste is your own!
Tasting coffee is about enjoyment, not judgement. The more coffees you taste with curiosity, the more confident you’ll become in describing what you like and enjoy … and the more likely you are to discover new favourites!
At The Daily – a signature blend that speaks to all your senses
The Daily Coffee Café’s signature blend has been carefully crafted to bring out a rich balance of flavour, aroma and mouthfeel – the hallmarks of a truly satisfying cup.
Our coffee beans are inhouse roasted with care, and each cup is brewed to its full potential in the hands of our dedicated baristas. It’s this expertise that ensures your coffee is always consistent, comforting, and full of subtle character.
So, next time you take a sip, pause for a second. What do you notice?
Next article: Clean espresso machines, better-tasting coffee!
In the next article in our “What makes a good cup of coffee?” series, we’ll explore the importance of regularly cleaning espresso machines, and how coffee oils, residue, and scale can quietly affect the flavour and taste in your cup.
