Defining a Balanced Cup of Coffee: Coffee Characteristics

Here in northern Vermont, we start our summer days with foggy mornings that obscure the mountains until the sun burns through the mist. It's the perfect time to relax with a cup of your favorite brew, breath deeply of the mountain air, and just be. One of my favorite coffees for the morning is Rise 'N Shine. It's a blend of Costa Rican and Sumatra beans, with just a hint of French Roast. Its smooth mellow flavor always starts my morning out right!


In the last blog, I talked about the importance of balance in life and in coffee. A well-balanced cup of coffee is judged on the coffee characteristics of acidity, aroma, body and flavor. Here are some simple definitions for those coffee terms.

• Acidity- This refers to a bright or pleasant sharpness often compared to that of a crisp white wine. This is a desirable trait and its opposite is a flatness that does not excite your taste buds.


• Aroma- The scent that is released by the oils in the coffee beans. Those fragrant oils are up to three times more present in the best beans. (And one of my favorite things about any cup of gourmet coffee!)


• Body- Think of this as the way the coffee feels on the inside of your mouth. Full bodied coffees can be described as rich or heavy. Medium bodied brews are lighter. Also, try running your tongue along the roof of your mouth to detect the thickness.


• Flavor- This is the way the above characteristics affect your taste buds. The easiest way to describe flavor is to compare it with other tastes. Terms like floral, nutty or even chocolaty are good for describing a coffee's flavor.

Still, the bottom line, whether you use fancy coffee terms or your own words, is how much you enjoy the taste and the experience. The coffee characteristics act as a way for us to communicate that great experience to others in our coffee community.


Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen