There are five elements of coffee taste – aroma, flavour, acidity, body, and aftertaste. I am sure any baristas reading this know them and are very familiar with them.
But now's a good time for those who don't know them!
But if you purchase a good, quality coffee and want to understand the taste beyond the point of "this tastes really good!" then read on.
Some of these you may understand right off the bat, and a few may need more explanation.
So here they are, the five elements of coffee taste.
When we talk about tasting coffee, we're talking about cupping. Cupping allows roasters to pick up on these 5 elements and assess coffee for its qualities and consistency.
Understanding the Broader Characteristics of Coffee
The characteristics of coffee go far beyond simply strong or weak, bitter or sweet. In fact, coffee is one of the most chemically complex beverages in the world, with over 800 aromatic compounds contributing to its overall profile.
The five main coffee elements serve as a structured way to evaluate the features of coffee, but they’re just the beginning of a deeper sensory experience. A well-rounded coffee doesn’t just have a pleasant taste – it strikes a balance between these elements to create harmony in every cup.
Think of it like music: individual notes matter, but it’s the composition that moves you. That’s what expert roasters aim for.
1 - Aroma
The smell, scent, fragrance – whatever you want to call it – the aroma of the coffee is how it smells after it's been brewed.
We're not talking about the beans before brewing, although that also smells nice and can be part of it; we're talking about the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and it's a critical factor in understanding the taste as taste is closely linked with smell. Does it smell fruity? Sour? Sweet? Fermented? Nutty? Sometimes the smell can be unpleasant or overly intense; sometimes, it can be very muted.
Your sense of smell has a direct influence on how you perceive flavour. That’s why when you’re congested, food tastes bland. Similarly, coffee’s aroma can set the tone for your entire tasting experience.
At Coffee Bean Roasting House, we ensure our beans retain their natural aromatic compounds through meticulous roasting techniques – so that what you smell is as rich as what you sip.
2 - Flavour
The most obvious characteristic of coffee is, of course, the flavour. More specifically, we mean the flavour notes that come through when evaluating the taste.
Does it have citrus, floral, berry, chocolatey, nutty, buttery, caramelly, smokey, spicy, sweet, sour, vanilla flavour notes?
The list of flavour notes and flavour profiles is extensive and can be very similar to the aroma. Although, the characteristics that come out with the aroma and flavour can be wildly different. So it's good practice to do both.
Flavour is often shaped by origin, altitude, processing method, and roast profile. For example, a light roast Ethiopian coffee might offer floral and citrusy notes, while a dark roast from Brazil may lean towards cocoa and spice. Recognising these coffee taste profiles helps you discover what truly suits your palate.
3 - Acidity
Coffee does have acidic content.
There can be at least a few different types of acids in coffee, for example, citric acid. But in this case, we're not talking about the acidity level or the acid types in coffee.
When we say acidity in coffee, what we mean for tasting is the brightness, and the dry sensation that brings out the flavour profile of the coffee, or on the negative side, the sourness or pungency of a coffee.
Many people don't like coffee that's too "acidy".
Balanced acidity can give a coffee its sparkle and vitality. When well-integrated, it highlights the coffee’s finer flavour notes. Poorly roasted or low-grade beans, however, can make acidity seem harsh or sour. At Coffee Bean Roasting House, our beans are carefully sourced and tested to bring out that perfect brightness without overwhelming the taste buds.
4 - Body
Body or mouthfeel refers to how the coffee feels in your mouth. It has to do with the sediments in the coffee and how “dense” it feels, and it can feel full-bodied or be lacking in body where the coffee feels flat and thin in your mouth.
Mouthfeel might not be the first thing you notice, but it’s essential to the overall experience. From velvety and creamy to light and tea-like, body can be shaped by brew method, roast level, and even water quality. It’s another key feature of coffee that adds texture and richness.
5 - Aftertaste
Also called the finish, aftertaste is the flavour that lingers after you've drank the coffee. More flavours will linger when there's a heavier or more full-bodied coffee. Some coffee will have a short or sharp finish where once you drink it, those flavours in your mouth disappear almost instantly. This is okay, although we generally enjoy coffee that lingers a little.
A memorable aftertaste is often what distinguishes an average coffee from a truly exceptional one. Long, complex finishes tend to point to higher-quality beans and precise roasting – something we pride ourselves on delivering in every Coffee Bean Roasting House batch.
Exploring Your Own Taste Preferences
Learning to recognise the characteristics of coffee is part of the journey towards becoming a more mindful coffee drinker. Whether you’re into bright and fruity light roasts or dark, chocolatey blends with heavy body, understanding these five coffee elements can help you make more confident decisions and appreciate your cup more deeply.
Want to experience it for yourself?
We hope you found this article helpful, and please feel free to share any questions. But most of all, have fun with your coffee tasting! If you’d like to explore coffee tasting and experience the five elements, why not try a sample pack?
At Coffee Bean Roasting House, we’re passionate about helping you discover the true depth of coffee. Our expertly curated coffee sample packs allow you to taste a variety of origins and roasting styles – each with unique features of coffee that highlight these five elements.
Explore our range of blends, single-origin and even decaf beans. Whether you’re refining your palate or simply curious, there’s a whole world of flavour to explore, one cup at a time.
