“What’s the most unusual coffee flavor profile you’ve encountered in your tasting journey? How did it challenge your expectations of what coffee can taste like?”
The bitterness
This morning I had a cup of Cafe Guarani here in Paraguay, and the bitterness was just what I needed to wake up and crush my days.
3 cups of coffee later n my brain is fully alive.
In June, I gave up cream with my coffee, and I’ve been forced to actually taste each cup without hiding behind a splash of white stuff… This cup was by far the most bitter I’ve had, but it also tasted fresh.
I don’t think I have coffee expectations, but I like it when my brain feels like it got hooked up to a machine, and this cup of coffee did that.
Cheers Paraguay.
Luke Matthews, Copywriter, AI Writing Lessons
Blueberry cheesecake
The most unusual coffee flavor profile I’ve encountered was a natural-process Geisha from Panama that tasted unmistakably like blueberry cheesecake, complete with a creamy, graham cracker finish.
I’m not talking about subtle fruit notes that you have to search for; this coffee literally tasted like dessert in a cup.
It completely shattered my expectations because growing up in Peru, our coffee culture emphasized earthy, chocolatey, nutty profiles. My grandmother would brew dark, robust coffee that tasted like roasted almonds and dark chocolate.
When I first sipped this Geisha, I actually thought someone had flavored it artificially, the blueberry was that pronounced.
This experience taught me that coffee’s flavor potential goes far beyond the traditional “coffee taste” most people expect. I
t opened my eyes to how processing methods, terroir, and roasting can unlock flavors that seem impossible. Now when I taste coffee, I approach it like wine tasting, completely open to unexpected flavor journeys.
That Geisha coffee changed how I write about coffee for my readers too. Instead of just describing coffee as “smooth” or “rich,” I help people identify specific flavors and understand why coffee can taste like everything from tropical fruit to vanilla cake.
It’s part of what makes coffee endlessly fascinating.
Flor R, Coffee Industry Content Specialist, FlorR
Lavender-infused Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
The most unusual coffee flavor profile I’ve encountered was a “lavender-infused Ethiopian Yirgacheffe.” I had the chance to try it at a specialty coffee shop, and I was blown away by how the floral notes of lavender meshed with the bright, fruity acidity of the Yirgacheffe beans. It wasn’t just a hint of lavender—it was a full, aromatic presence that felt almost like sipping on a floral tea rather than coffee. It completely challenged my expectations of what coffee could taste like. I’d always associated coffee with more traditional flavors like chocolate, caramel, or nutty profiles, but this brew was delicate, refreshing, and herbaceous in a way I hadn’t thought possible. It opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of infusing unique flavors into coffee, making me rethink how creative coffee blends can really be.
Nikita Sherbina, Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen
Strong notes of blueberry, jasmine, and even a hint of wine
One of the most unusual coffee flavor profiles I’ve encountered was a natural-processed Ethiopian roast that had strong notes of blueberry, jasmine, and even a hint of wine. It was nothing like the bold, bitter coffees I grew up with, it was bright, almost fruity, and incredibly aromatic. The first sip felt more like sipping a tea or a dessert than traditional coffee. It challenged my assumptions by showing how origin, processing, and roast level can transform flavor completely. Since then, I’ve approached every new cup with curiosity instead of expectations.
Nick Vitucci, Head of Marketing, Leto Graphics