The coffee flavor wheel groups tasting notes into families, from broad categories to specific descriptors. Use it to put words to what you taste.
| Flavor family | Common descriptors |
|---|---|
| Fruity | Berry, citrus, stone fruit, tropical |
| Floral | Jasmine, rose, chamomile |
| Sweet | Caramel, honey, vanilla, brown sugar |
| Nutty / Cocoa | Almond, hazelnut, chocolate |
| Spice | Cinnamon, clove, pepper |
| Roasted | Toast, smoke, ashy |
| Sour / Fermented | Winey, tart, overripe |
| Green / Vegetative | Grassy, herbal, raw |
Work broad to specific. Start with a broad family (is it fruity or nutty?), then narrow to a specific note. This mirrors how the Specialty Coffee flavor wheel is read, outer ring inward.
See the Coffee Bean Origin Guide and the Single Origin Coffee Guide.