Coffee Book 101: The Complete Guide Of Fruity Coffee Roasts

Fruity coffees have a strong following due to their unique and flavourful taste. These coffees come in many different varieties from all over the world. The distinct fruity flavours come from the different regions where the beans are grown, harvested, and roasted.

What makes coffee fruity

Toasters would flavor the coffee beans with raspberry, cinnamon, or any other flavoring they thought would be a top seller. The first method has to do with the soil composition. It’s no secret that soil composition impacts flavoring and acidity.

Columbia produces coffee with an earthy aroma due to the sulfur compounds in the soil. Ethiopia produces coffee with a citrusy aroma due to the monoterpenes in the ground.

What does coffee flavor mean

When coffee tastes fruity, it means that it has a similar taste to fruit. Even though coffee will always have a primary coffee taste, sometimes the aftertaste can be sweet and fruity.

See if you can identify the subtle flavors in your cup by taking a couple of deep breaths before you sip your coffee.

Factors that affect the taste of coffee beans

Coffee beans are grown in many places around the world. The main regions they come from are Brazil, Panama, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Indonesia. The cherries from each region have different flavors. The environmental factors and how the coffee is processed are more important than the location for determining the flavor of the coffee. This is especially true for coffee with fruity flavors.

Altitude 

Coffee plants are grown at a high altitude so that they can focus on producing cherries. The air is cooler at a higher altitude, which helps the plant to produce cherries that have a fruity tang and brighter nuance.

Climate

In addition to being grown in warmer climates, coffee relies on the right levels of humidity and rain to signal when the plant should produce cherries. If the plant blooms too early or late, the beans will have a distorted taste.

Soil Composition

The composition of the soil is essential for the correct cultivation of coffee plants, specifically the nutrients that the soil contains. For example, volcanic peaks often have a different nutrient composition to other types of soil because of the chemicals that make up the molten rock beneath the surface.

Harvesting

The way that cherries are harvested differs depending on the farm. Some farms use mechanical pickers while others still use the traditional method of hand-picking. The most important factor is not necessarily how the cherries are harvested, but when they are harvested. If they are picked too early, the beans will have a “green” flavor.

Processing

The amount of time that the coffee beans are left to dry after harvesting and before roasting is referred to as processing. This is a crucial element in ensuring that the coffee beans have a balanced flavor. Processing times can range from six days to almost two weeks.

Roasting

The last step in making the coffee is roasting the beans, which is also crucial to getting the desired flavor. Lighter roasts preserve more of the citrus and sweet notes, while bolder coffees have more of an acidic taste.

What to look for in high-quality fruity coffee

Acidity

The taste should be reminiscent of citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, and tangerines, with perhaps notes of strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry. While citrus fruits all contain citric acid, some also contain malic acid, which can produce flavors like apples and grapes.

Aroma

If you want to identify the subtle flavors of fruit in your coffee, take a deep breath in before taking a sip. You should also smell the coffee while it’s in bean form, after it’s been ground, while it’s wet, and after you’ve brewed it. This will be especially helpful for naturally processed beans, which tend to have a stronger scent.

Sweetness

The coffee cherry is a red fruit that tastes sweet. Some of the sweetness from the fruit dissolves into the bean, making the coffee bean taste slightly sweet. Depending on how the fruit interacts with the aromas and acids, the beans can taste like honey or caramel.

What to know before trying fruity coffee

It’s Not Obvious

It is important to remember that fruity coffee will not have a strong flavor. For example, if you have a strawberry coffee, you will taste subtle flavors that remind you of the fruit. You should look for the subtle flavors in the coffee.

Be Open

You want to be looking for general flavors that remind you of fruit, rather than specific fruit flavors. If you’re not very experienced in identifying flavors, it can help to cleanse your palate before tasting. Try taking a few sips of water or eating some white bread.

Close Your Eyes

Although it may seem silly, it is beneficial to close your eyes while tasting your coffee so your mind can focus on the taste. However, you always want to give the coffee a thorough inspection as well. Beans from different parts of the world (and with different fruity-accents) can look different.

Try It Black

The best way to taste the subtly sweet and citrus flavors is to drink black coffee. Even if it’s not your favorite, you will gain far more knowledge from it, plus you can then add milk and sweeteners that will blend well with the subtle notes.

Common fruit flavors in coffee

• Orange
• Lime
• Cherry
• Apple
• Mango
• Pineapple
• Guava
• Blueberry
• Strawberry
• Lime
• Peach
• Grape
• Raspberry
• Tangerine
• Flowers

Avoiding artificially fruity coffee

The process gives the coffee an added fruity flavor and a more attractive appearance, but the oil can go rancid and make the coffee taste unpleasant. You should be aware of a few things when looking for a good coffee with fruity notes. In the 1960s, spraying coffee beans with fruit oil became popular when the price of beans increased. This process gives coffee an added fruity flavor and more attractive appearance; however, the oil can go rancid and make coffee taste unpleasant.

Farmers who couldn’t produce quality beans would try to cover up the bad taste by spraying coffee with fruit oils. However, this just made the coffee taste fake and even more unpleasant.

5 Best fruity coffee roasts

Stumptown – Citrus

A coffee company from Oregon has been doing very well recently, especially in the western United States.

But the strength of the coffee has nothing to do with where it comes from. It has to do with the flavor, and Stumptown coffee is very flavorful. The hints of citrus and chocolate produce a sweet and balanced cup of coffee.

This coffee is made with a blend of beans from Central and South America, East Africa, and Indonesia.

Good

Great balanced flavor

The great amount of caffeine

Bad

Problems with manufacturing

Some say beans aren’t fresh

Verve – The Sermon Espresso

This light, fruity espresso roast is a favorite amongst Verve fans. Based in Santa Cruz, California, Verve has gained immense popularity throughout the years.

The Sermon Espresso blend may taste excellent because it is sourced from the best villages in Brazil, Colombia, and Ethiopia.

Sermon Blend has a rich flavor that is well-balanced between sweetness and acidity. If you prefer a coffee with a fruity flavor and a bold body that is not too bitter, then Sermon Blend is the right choice for you.

Verve has a bold, fruity coffee taste that is never stale and always fresh. It is a great choice for your morning coffee.

Good

Great fruity taste

Perfectly balanced

Bad

Poor bag design

Thou Mayest – Wild Child