Coffee Discovery

A Simple Guide to Tasting Coffee

Learn to taste coffee with intention so you can better understand and talk about the flavors you love.
Coffee Discovery
A steaming cup of black coffee in a stoneware mug on a polished wooden table.

Why Tasting Coffee Matters

Coffee is more than a beverage, it’s an experience. Every cup reflects where it comes from and how it’s made. Learning to taste coffee helps you notice those differences and explain what you enjoy.

At Starbucks, coffee is at the heart of what we do. From bright and citrusy coffees to those that are smooth and mellow, tasting helps bring these flavors to life. Coffee tastings are a long‑standing tradition that invite everyone to explore, compare, and talk about the coffees they love.

Starbucks barista serving a customer with a tray of coffee and snacks in an outdoor setting.Two Starbucks employees doing a cheers
Person pouring steaming hot liquid into cups with a blurred backgroundSteaming hot liquid being poured from a teapot into cups with a blurred background
Tasting coffee with intention builds the skills to recognize and describe the flavors you love.

How to Taste Coffee​

At Starbucks, we follow four simple steps of tasting coffee.​

​Smell​
Inhale deeply. Aroma is the first clue to a coffee’s flavor. Your mouth can detect just five basic tastes, but your nose can distinguish over a trillion aromas!​​

Slurp​
A good, noisy slurp! Don’t be shy. This will spray the coffee across your tongue and palate, letting you taste the subtleties. ​​

Locate​
Think about how the coffee feels in your mouth. What is its weight or thickness? Where on your tongue do you experience sensation?​​

Describe​
What words would you use to describe what you are tasting? What flavors come to mind?

Woman sitting at a table with a cup of coffee, looking down at a smartphone.Person eating with a spoon at a table with drinks and people around
Barista tasting coffee in a professional settingPerson tasting coffee with spoon

Exploring Coffee’s Flavors

Coffee gets its flavor from where it’s grown and how it’s roasted and brewed. When tasting, start with broad flavor groups, then notice what stands out most:​​

  • Fruity (apple, berry, citrus)​
  • Floral (jasmine, rose)​
  • Nutty & Cocoa (almond, chocolate)​
  • Spicy & Sweet (cinnamon, caramel, vanilla)​
  • Earthy & Herbal (fresh herbs, cedar)​

You don’t need to name every note. Simply identifying whether a coffee feels bright, sweet, or mellow helps you recognize patterns and discover your personal preferences.

Group of Starbucks employees in green aprons at a table with coffee cups and glasses.Group of Starbucks employees in green aprons at a training session with coffee cups and glasses on a table.
Person taking notes with a pen and a notebook, holding a metal cup, in a kitchen setting.Coffee tasting checklist

Try a Coffee Tasting at Home

You can explore coffee flavors at home with just a few simple steps:​​

  1. Brew two coffees using the same method
  2. Smell, slurp, and notice how each one tastes and feels​
  3. Jot down a few words that come to mind​
  4. Share the experience and compare notes if you can​

Every tasting builds confidence and brings you closer to the story behind your cup.

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