How does a coffee bean get its smokey flavor?
I've tasted on a number of occasions coffee that has smokey flavor. Is this a natural flavor of the beans or was it acquired in other means (e.g. during the roasting process)?
Best Answer
It's all about the roasting process. The beans themselves have a much subtler flavor, a bit closer to tea really.
Try tasting a light roast coffee compared to a medium roast or dark roast at your local coffee house. The differences are readily apparent. The coffee you describe was most likely a dark roast which generally has a quite smoky and even burnt character.
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Quick Answer about "How does a coffee bean get its smokey flavor?"
The fibrous structures of the bean also lose water content, burning more easily, resulting in a more carbon-like flavor. The result is a smoky flavor in the cup, even in a medium or light roast coffee. This smokiness will take a long resting time to fade, and it is nearly impossible to remove completely.How do you get the smoky flavor in coffee?
Let the ground coffee cold smoke for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove the ground coffee, place into a coffee grinder, and grind into a fine powder. Place smoked coffee into an airtight container. Coffee will be ready to use right away, but wait 5-7 days for peak flavor.How do coffee beans get their flavor?
These compounds are called esters and different esters can be found in different coffee plants. A coffee's environment, the way it is processed, how it is roasted, and brewed can all affect the way these tastes and aromas present themselves because they affect the chemistry of the coffee beans.Flavor Notes Versus Flavored Coffee
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Answer 2
Any kind of added flavor notes take place during the roasting process. Have you ever had a beer with added hops, or a fruitier beer made with orange peel? Almost the same effect.
You can take a traditional bean and do all sorts of fun stuff with it to give the taste some character and let it stand out.
There's so many varieties out there you can really create just about anything. Whether or not it'll taste good is another story. Ginger coffee comes to mind....gross.
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