Coffee Flavor Wheel

The industry-standard wheel from the Specialty Coffee Association and World Coffee Research — the most exhaustive vocabulary there is for describing what's in the cup.

• Fruity4Fresh fruit — berries, citrus, orchard and tropical fruit, and dried fruit.
• Floral2Perfume-like flower aromas, plus dry tea-like notes.
• Sweet5Sugary notes — caramel, honey, vanilla, and syrup.
• Nutty/Cocoa2Roasted nuts and cocoa, from milk chocolate to bitter.
• Spices3Warm baking spices and sharper, pungent, peppery notes.
• Roasted4Toasty, smoky, tobacco, and cereal flavors that come from the roast itself.
• Green/Vegetative4Green, leafy, raw-vegetable flavors — often a sign of underdevelopment.
• Sour/Fermented2Sharp acids and boozy, fermented notes.
• Other2Off-flavors and faults — papery, musty, or chemical.