What does good coffee taste like? In this article, we will explore the dimensions of taste and smell and how they can enhance your coffee-drinking pleasure. We are referring to caffeinated coffee throughout.
Coffee starts out as a humble cherry with a seed, yet that tiny green seed or bean can achieve levels of complexity that are three-dimensional when experiencing a sensory cup of java – through sight, taste, and smell.
Satisfaction with a cup of coffee is highly subjective depending on your gustatory and olfactory senses. Your palate may prefer bitter over sweet, or spicy over fruity. But describing why you do or don’t prefer a particular coffee bean can be harder to define.
Roast Profile and Origin Matter
Unless you identify and locate your preferred bean and roast profile, you could miss out on a lifetime of sipping what you judge is “good” coffee. Purchase the wrong bean or blend or roast for your palate, and your morning may not start out as well as it could.
If you have ever tried a blind coffee test at home or at a commercial coffee roaster, you will know that the coffee variety, country of origin, and roast profile have everything to do with how a particular coffee strikes you. As you compare different beans and roasts, a simple roadmap can help interpret what you are experiencing. Much like wine tasting, there are general guidelines on what to look out for:
- Fragrance/Aroma
- Flavor
- Aftertaste
- Acidity
- Mouthfeel

Each category has its own set of aromatic or flavorful descriptions, or a combination of them. The more smells and tastes you can identify in one cup, the more heightened your experience of the coffee will be.
These sample descriptions will help you describe your own experience, but as you will see in a moment, there is a vast array of possibilities to either enjoy or dislike. Before you jump from one cup to the next in a coffee-tasting experience, be sure to cleanse your palate in between sips with a swish of soda or sparkling water. The bubbles will enable your tongue and taste buds to flush and better discern the next flavor.
To discover “what does good coffee taste like,” consider the following characteristics.
Coffee Fragrance / Aroma
When you bring the cup to your lips, inhale first before thinking of taking a sip. Then ask yourself if there are any recognizable scents that you can identify, such as in this suggested list. You may notice more than one hint of an aroma.
- Fruity, apple, berry, grapefruit, lemon, cherry
- Earthy, resinous, straw, musty, leather, smoke
- Caramel, toffee, chocolate, vanilla, nutty
- Malty, butter, toast
- Spicy, pepper
- Floral

Coffee Flavor
Once you have taken time to smell the coffee, the next step is to taste it. Professionals who “cup” coffee use a method of slurping out of a specially designed spoon to fully discern the flavor profile. By slurping, we mean taking in both liquid and air for optimal effect. Don’t worry about making a slurping noise, as this helps to draw in more air and better aerate your palate.
- Sweet or sour
- Fruity
- Intense, exotic, pungent
- Delicate
- Woody, musty
- Nutty
- Rich or flat
- Balanced
Coffee Acidity
As you roll the coffee around your mouth, can you detect the level of acidity? Is it tart or is it sweet? Here are some examples.
- Delicate
- Grassy
- Hard
- Acrid
- Piquant
- Sweet
- Tangy
- Tart
- Vibrant
- Soft
- Sour
- Winey
Coffee Mouthfeel
How does the coffee feel in your mouth? Are there distinguishable textures or sensations? The list below might help you put into words your mouthfeel perceptions.
- Buttery
- Creamy
- Smooth
- Rich
- Velvety
- Watery
- Oily
- Dry
- Chalky
- Gritty
- Rough
- Astringent
- Metallic
Coffee Aftertaste
You may notice after swallowing that the initial flavor has changed. Is it still desirable? Or is it awful? Is the aftertaste brief or does it linger in your mouth? Look at this list to help you decide what you are now tasting.
- Dry
- Bitter, sour
- Harsh
- Dirty
- Clean
- Sweet
- Floral
- Fruity
Defining Your Coffee Flavor Profile
So, you decide you like fruity, floral, and sweet flavors and aromas. That puts you on a course to finding the beans and roast profile that correspond to your preference. Regional growers typically produce coffee beans with these overall taste notes:
- Latin America – Chocolaty, nutty, caramel, balanced, mild acidity
- Africa – Fruity, floral, sweet, bright, acidic
- Asia – Dark chocolate, earthy, herbal, smooth, low acidity
If African-grown coffee ticks the boxes for you, you can experiment with the different varieties of coffee grown in African countries, from Ethiopia to Tanzania to Kenya, and many others. Or you may take a taste journey through Latin America or Asia.
Why does my coffee taste bad?
After using these tasting methods, and exploring different coffee beans, roasting, and grinding methods, if you find that the coffee you are drinking tastes burnt, too bitter, or otherwise bad, then you may want to examine a few possible causes. The most likely culprits are these:
- The roasted coffee was too old or stale.
- The roasting process went too long and burnt the beans.
- The roasting process was too short and the coffee tasted grassy or sour.
- Your water temperature wasn’t hot enough (recommend 195 and 205 degrees).
- Your brew time was too short.
- The brew time was too long as is possible in a French press.
- The grind was uneven or too coarse.
- Your water-to-coffee ratio was not balanced.
- You may need to try different light, medium, and dark roasts to dial in your preferred taste.
- The coffee bean origin was not for you. Try a different region.
- Although more expensive, you may prefer Arabica over Robusta coffee.
- COVID-19 can temporarily change your sense of smell or taste. Give it time to resolve.
Conclusion
A cup of coffee doesn’t have to be just an excuse to meet a friend in a coffee shop or a means to get amped up for work. It has a value all its own that merits your focused attention to appreciate it. And in doing so, you may more fully appreciate the effort of the producers who worked so hard to bring their crop to your cup.

So go ahead and develop your “nose” and taste for a variety of coffee fragrances and flavors. It may take a while to experiment and adjust your taste buds. If you are not already a coffee aficionado, you may be surprised to learn how complex that mysterious brown elixir really is in your cup. Source.
Are you interested in the multiple ways to make coffee? This article, “Coffee Brewing Methods Comparison,” may give you some new insights to improve your coffee experience.