There is no such thing as a strong cup of coffee! The modifier “strong” is the most frequently misused descriptor of a coffee’s taste. When we say a coffee is “strong,” what do we mean?
Strong means many different things to many different people. To avoid this confusion, coffee professionals avoid using the word “strong” when describing a cup of coffee. Instead, there are approximately 4 different categories across which we can describe a cup of coffee to better understand and explain the experience. These words and categories are meant only to clarify what a coffee tastes like – not to determine which one is “better.”
Like other premium beverages, the best tasting cup of coffee is a personal decision based on your own taste preferences. A darker roast is not a better roast; full bodied is not better than medium body, the decision as to which one is best is entirely yours!
BODY – What does the coffee feel like in your mouth? Is it Thick/Full (like whole milk) or Thin/Light (like water)?
FLAVOR – What flavors do you taste? Is it spicy, fruity, or nutty? Is the flavor Mild or Intense?
AROMA – What do you smell? Floral, fruity, musty? Is the aroma strong and intense or weak and subdued? (Coffee’s aroma fades with age…can you tell if it is stale?)
ACIDITY – What is the coffee’s texture in your mouth? What is the sensation of dryness in the back and around the edges of your mouth? Low acidity has a soft and smooth texture. Medium acidity is a little snappy. And High acidity has a crisp, snappy finish, similar to red wine. Acidity is closely linked to a coffee’s origin: Coffee from South America is typically low in acidity; Coffee from the Pacific is usually medium acidity; and Coffee from Africa typically has high acidity.