The Latest 2017 SCAA Coffee Flavor Wheel HD Image_The Origin of High-Definition Chinese and English Coffee Flavor Wheel

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Historical Revision of the SCAA Coffee Flavor Wheel

On January 19, 2016, the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) joined forces with WCR (World Coffee Research) to make a historic revision of the SCAA Coffee Flavor Wheel — the first revision in 21 years since the wheel's creation, an unquestionably historic change for the coffee industry.

The Evolution of Coffee Tasting Language

The range of flavors and professional terminology covered by the wheel was substantially expanded, and the new flavor wheel went viral in the coffee community upon release. Our sensory perception of food and drink is, after all, personal and subjective — yet in coffee cupping, even subjective taste opinions are hard to communicate clearly. To find a more objective, shared language that lets judges talk to one another, the SCAA developed a specialized set of "aroma terminology" for describing taste.

What was built from that terminology is the "Flavor Wheel." The flavor wheel can be described as the bible of cuppers and roasters. Cuppers give the wheel life; roasters give it expression. Perhaps the wheel exists to serve them — and it is precisely the wheel that makes cuppers and roasters so important.

The Essential Triangle of Coffee Excellence

Cupping, guided by the flavor wheel, becomes simple and clear. Roasting, guided by the flavor wheel, becomes more expressive. The wheel, the cuppers, and the roasters form a solid iron triangle on the journey from cultivation to final cup. Among the countless floral and fruity aromas in every cup, we need a standard — something that lets us summarize and name flavors — and that is exactly why the flavor wheel was born.

Coffee's Journey Through Civilization

Starting from taste and aroma, the wheel meticulously classifies our most delightful sensory experiences; beginning with defects and contamination, it reminds us how much coffee quality matters — and how far we have truly come. Coffee has lived through a magnificent epic of human civilization: for hundreds of years it has been a silent yet gentle force, changing history and the people who make it in the most unassuming ways. In this vast world, coffee keeps proving its value, and this wheel, built upon that history, represents the spirit of pursuit and progress — a banner raised by specialty coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation: Medium Roasts That Balance Sour and Bitter

The flavor wheel's sweetness and balance live or die at the roast, and for balance a medium roast is the place to start. FrontStreet recommends the Brazil Queen Estate — a yellow Bourbon from the world's largest coffee-producing country, medium roasted for creamed peanut, chocolate, toasted bread, and sugarcane sweetness, at home in pour-over, moka pot, or espresso. For something sweeter and fruitier, the FrontStreet Strawberry Candy Geisha Blend pairs Costa Rica honey process with Panama washed Geisha for orange-blossom honey notes and round sweetness. And for the balanced, gentle classic, the FrontStreet 2013 Natural Typica carries nut, brown sugar, black tea, and dried apricot — genuine Yunnan small-bean character at excellent value.