Have you ever noticed how two coffees can have completely different flavors, even if prepared in the same way? The answer lies in ‘Terroir’ – a French term that describes the unique set of environmental factors where coffee is grown.
Climate, altitude, soil type, and cultivation techniques all play a crucial role in defining the aromatic profile of coffee, and all these characteristics will be transmitted into the cup, giving each coffee unique and distinctive features.
Let’s look at some examples:
*Ethiopia: Known as the birthplace of coffee, it offers beans with floral and fruity notes, often with accents of bergamot and jasmine.
*Colombia: Here, coffee grows on lush Andean mountains, and this particular environment imparts very special flavors to the cup, creating a very balanced taste and aroma, with notes of caramel and chocolate.
*Brazil: The world’s largest coffee producer offers sweet and full-bodied coffee, with hints of nuts and chocolate.
*Jamaica Blue Mountain: One of the world’s most prized coffees, known for its clean, sweet taste and slight acidity.
These are just a few examples of how the land, water, and air influence the different types of coffee, significantly altering the aromatic profile and creating truly distinctive aromatic bouquets, extremely different from each other.
Another very important aspect, in addition to “Terroir,” is attributed to processing, which naturally occurs after harvesting and significantly influences the organoleptic profile of coffee.
But we will talk about this in detail in a future article.
In conclusion, we can say that the diversity of coffee Terroir invites us to explore the world in a cup, discovering cultures and landscapes through the palate.
And you? Which coffee origin fascinates you the most or which one would you like to try?
