Basics of taste
Bitterness
Coffee 1Bitterness is a strong taste that can feel intense. We are naturally sensitive to bitterness because it can signal something harmful. Coffee by default is a bitter drink, and bitterness is what gives coffee its typical flavour. When milk or sugar is added, bitterness is reduced. Common example of a bitter food is dark chocolate.
The coffee in the Basics of Taste kit is a Monsoon Malabar coffee variety from India. This coffee is known for its low acidity and pronounced bitterness. During processing, the beans are exposed to humid monsoon winds, which changes their structure and results in a smooth, heavy-bodied coffee with earthy, woody, and slightly spicy notes. This makes it a great example of bitterness in a balanced and approachable way.
Acidity
Coffee 2Acidity refers to the bright, fresh, and lively sensations in coffee. While “sourness” (like biting into a raw lemon) is unpleasant, acidity in coffee can be desirable. Common examples are green apple or citrus fruits. Highly acidic coffee is typically light roasted.
The coffee selected for its acidity is a Kenyan coffee from the Kiambu region. It is grown at around 1,900 meters above sea level, where the cooler climate slows down the ripening of the coffee cherries. This longer maturation allows the beans to develop more complex flavours, including higher acidity and perceived sweetness.
Sweetness
Coffee 3The taste of sweetness comes from sugar in different foods and drinks. Black coffee, however, does not have sugar – why would we speak about sweetness in coffee? Sweetness in coffee is perceived – our brains think it tastes sweet because it reminds us of other sweet things (think burnt sugar, caramel or milk chocolate). This is because natural sugars in green coffee transform during roasting into compounds that remind us of sweetness.
The coffee selected is a Brazilian coffee grown in the Mogiana region in São Paulo, at around 1,000–1,100 meters above sea level. Coffees from Brazil are typically grown at lower altitudes compared to African coffees, which results in more sweetness and lower acidity,
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Discover the basic tastes of coffee - bitterness, acidity and sweetness - by tasting three different coffees. Tasting kit includes 6 drip bags in total (2x of each)