You see on the bag it says:
Grapes, roses, black tea
And you say to yourself: “I don’t feel anything… it all tastes like coffee!”
It's not just imagination or exaggeration - there's a tool called the Flavor Wheel that helps you understand the taste and explains the flavor of coffee accurately.
Let's find out what the wheel is, and why it's really worth trying to use.
1. What is the flavor wheel?
It is a visual tool with a set of flavors arranged from general to subtle , used in evaluating specialty coffee.
🎯 Its purpose: It helps you determine what you “feel” in your cup, instead of saying “It tastes good, but I don’t know how to describe it.”
🌀 Starting from inner circles (general flavors: fruits, spices…)
And it expands to external circles (subtle flavors: peach, berry, lemon blossom…)
2. Do I need to be an expert to use it?
❌ Never.
✅ Even if you are a beginner, the wheel helps you:
- Links sensation and taste
- Your taste evolves over time.
- Understand the description of the coffee bag more deeply
- Really differentiate coffee flavors, not just a compliment!
3. How to use it simply?
☕ Take your cup, and start with:
- Is it fruity? Chocolatey? Cereal?
- Ok, what kind of fruit? Citrus? Red?
- Do you feel a certain flavor is more pronounced than others?
✅ Define your feeling → See what it corresponds to in the wheel
🔁 With time, you start to feel the flavor before you see it written.
4. Real-life examples from INGO:
🌸 Geisha La Esperanza – Hybrid Roastery
- Written: Rose, Mango, Apricot
- In the wheel: Tropical fruits → Apricot / Mango
- Clear floral notes → rose
🍬 Colombia El Paraiso – Shuffle Roastery
- Written: Milk chocolate, cinnamon
- In the wheel: Caramel → Chocolate / Spices → Cinnamon
5. Tip: Don't save the wheel... taste it.
🎯 You don't need to memorize all the flavors, but:
- Taste your cup and see the wheel
- Watch every time and see what catches your attention.
- Take notes, even if they are simple.
💡 With time, you find yourself saying:
"Oh...this really does look like a berry!" 👌
✅ Conclusion:
The flavor wheel is a simple tool but it completely changes your experience.
Not to philosophize... but to understand your coffee more deeply , and enjoy every sip consciously.
👉 Choose a Ben with clear flavors and try the wheel yourself with INGO