Statistics show that 64% of Americans enjoy at least one cup of coffee daily! But what is it about coffee that makes people so happy? It’s not just the caffeine but the delicious, bold flavor that causes your taste buds to rejoice.
Here’s a breakdown of the most popular coffee flavors available.
What Is a Coffee Flavor?
A coffee flavor is a coffee with additional flavoring or added ingredients to change the way the coffee tastes. Both natural and artificial flavorings can be used to flavor coffee.
Coffee flavor also describes the natural taste that coffee has. Since all coffee isn’t created equally, each blend uses a different type of coffee bean, giving each type of coffee a different flavor profile.
In some cultures, such as the African and South American ones, coffee flavors range from tangy grapefruit to bitter cherry. While in others, such as Columbia, the coffee flavors are typically nuttier and more earthy.
The two most common coffee flavor profiles include the fruity flavor profile and the chocolate flavor profile.
Coffees with a Fruity Flavor Profile
Some types of coffees have a fruity flavor profile and give off notes of citrus and berries. The kind of coffee beans that grow in Ethiopia tends to be fruity in taste, likely due to the climate and soil.
Coffee beans from Kenya also tend to give off a fruity flavor profile. Kenya has a pleasant, tropical climate, which results in the soil being rich with nutrients for coffee beans to flourish. A naturally flavored coffee with a fruity flavor profile is best enjoyed alone and doesn’t need a sweet pairing.
Although coffees with a fruity flavor profile are best when sipped alone, if you’re pairing them with food, choose a rich flavor. Savory foods such as egg omelets or cheesy potatoes are excellent food choices to pair with a fruity-flavored coffee.
Coffees with a Chocolate Flavor Profile
Other types of coffee beans tend to give off a chocolate flavor profile. Due to environmental factors, such as the climate and the soil in which they grow, coffee beans in certain countries have a chocolatey or nutty flavor.
When looking for a coffee with chocolate undertones, it’s important to note where the beans come from. Countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Brazil, and Vietnam are all responsible for producing coffee with a chocolate flavor profile.
Coffees with a chocolate flavor profile taste great alone or with something sweet! They are also a delicious addition to evening desserts or mid-morning brunch. The aroma of coffee with a chocolate flavor is sweet yet strong and will always get your taste buds going before the first sip.
Coffee Flavor Syrups
When the coffee’s natural flavor isn’t enough, you can always add more sweetness and flavor by adding coffee flavor syrups to your cup of joe. Artificially flavored coffee syrups are usually composed of sugar and natural flavors.
You do have the option of purchasing flavored coffees, where the flavors are infused in the coffee beans just after roasting. Some even use gourmet coffee beans, which are 100% Arabica beans for the purpose.
Caramel Flavored Coffee
Caramel is a popular flavor for coffee syrup since it’s sweet and has a smooth after-taste that blends well with the coffee’s bold flavor. Caramel makes coffee more enjoyable for people who crave that extra sweetness.
Although it’s easier to buy premade caramel coffee flavoring, some people like to make their own to cut back on sugar and make a healthier version of this sweet treat. You can create a smooth buttery caramel flavor for your coffee by mixing ingredients such as:
- Sugar
- Water
- Vanilla extract
- Corn syrup
- Caramel flavoring
Caramel coffee flavor syrup goes best with medium to dark roasts. It will taste better if the coffee flavor has chocolate undertones rather than fruity flavors. Try mixing caramel with another sweet flavor, such as vanilla or chocolate, to add even more fun to your morning cup of coffee.
Vanilla
Vanilla is another sweet flavor that adds flavor and cuts the natural bitterness of the coffee.
In certain countries, such as Madagascar or Uganda, Vanilla grows naturally in the fields, and locals use fresh vanilla to sweeten coffee. The vanilla bean has a slightly nutty taste, so it pairs well with chocolate flavor profiles.
Vanilla adds sweetness to the coffee flavor but also makes the coffee creamier and more palatable to drink. You’ll want to avoid adding too much additional sugar. Out of all the flavor additives, vanilla is the most versatile.
You can create an extravagant iced coffee drink by adding ice cream and toppings, or you can keep it simple and add some vanilla extract. The best thing about vanilla is that it’s affordable and easy to find.
French Vanilla
French vanilla has a small amount of Hazelnut added to the vanilla. This adds a bit of nuttiness to the sweet profile. The French vanilla-flavored coffee is made either by infusing the flavor in the beans just after a coffee roast or by adding high-quality syrup with French vanilla flavor to the coffee brew. It is one of the most popular coffee flavors among Americans. It is best suited for medium or light-roast coffee beans.
Chocolate Flavored Coffee
Chocolate coffee flavor syrup is another popular flavor to add to coffee. Chocolate pairs perfectly with coffee because it’s sweet, decadent, and has a slightly bitter undertone in certain varieties. Of course, coffee with a natural chocolate flavor will blend well with flavored syrup. Still, chocolate also pairs well with coffees with nutty undertones.
Research shows that chocolate and coffee have a close relationship, and people who enjoy chocolate (dark chocolate, to be exact) like coffee too. This evidence explains why chocolate coffee favoring is a popular choice.
Chocolate coffee flavoring is perfect when blended with other sweet flavors, such as caramel or vanilla. It can really bring a cup of coffee to life.
Dark roasts are generally the better choice when adding chocolate-flavored syrup to your coffee. The bitterness of the coffee will help cut the syrup’s richness.
Hazelnut Flavored Coffee
Another trendy coffee flavor you may want to try adding to your cup of coffee sometime is hazelnut. Natural hazelnut originates from the Eastern part of North America, in both the United States and Canada. It has long been a popular addition to coffee as the nutty flavor combines well with bitter coffee.
The hazelnut syrup is less sweet and blends well with various coffee flavors. In addition, hazelnut is less intense than chocolate or vanilla, so it generally pairs well with a lighter blend of coffee, such as a breakfast blend or light roast.
You may also enjoy blending hazelnut with a sweeter flavor, such as chocolate or caramel, simply because it doesn’t add as much sweetness. The nutty flavor combined with the boldness of the coffee creates the perfect storm for happy taste buds.
Toffee
Toffee, a less popular choice for coffee flavor syrups, is still a remarkable flavor that compliments coffee well. Toffee has a sweet buttery flavor that creates a creamy cup of coffee with nutty undertones.
Toffee is commonly used as a sweetener in European cultures. The most popular form of toffee, English Butter Toffee, originated in England. So if you’re sipping some coffee in Europe, you can expect toffee to be a flavor on the menu.
Toffee works well with other coffee syrup flavors, including:
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
- Irish cream-flavored coffee
- Caramel
This flavor is similar to caramel, but it’s slightly sweeter, and some may find it too intense. Due to its intensity, it’s a good idea to pair this flavor with a dark roast.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a simple yet unique flavor that will enhance any cup. Of course, cinnamon and coffee may not sound like your typical match made in heaven. But this flavor combination is impeccable. Its simplicity lets the robust flavors shine.
Cinnamon has a spicy and herby flavor which blends well with both fruity-flavored coffees and coffees that have chocolate notes. Cinnamon is a versatile flavor that adds spice to your coffee without removing its natural, bold flavor.
In the fall, you’re most likely to see the cinnamon coffee flavor, but it’s tasty all year long. Cinnamon and pumpkin are two flavors that blend well, as well as cinnamon and vanilla. The sweetness of the vanilla and the spicy kick of the Cinnamon create a flavor profile that will knock you off your feet.
Add cinnamon-flavored coffee syrup to a light or medium roast coffee as a dark roast may over-power the robust cinnamon flavor.
Pumpkin Spice
According to Forbes Magazine, pumpkin spice coffee was the third most popular pumpkin spice product sold during the fall season. So it’s clear why this syrup is also a great flavor to add to the list.
Pumpkin spice is the perfect blend of spicy and sweet and makes an excellent addition to black coffee. It’s best blended with a medium roast coffee but can also add a kick to a light roast.
Pumpkin spice is one flavor that stands alone, so combining it with other flavors, such as chocolate or vanilla, may not be the best option. Instead, enjoy a cup of pumpkin spice-flavored coffee by itself to get the complete flavor profile that this delicious flavor offers.
Flavor Profile of an Espresso
An espresso is a form of coffee that is very potent. It’s basically coffee amped up to its full degree. Espresso is excellent in the morning if you need a quick jolt of energy. Still, it should be consumed in moderation, as the caffeine levels in espresso are three times higher than that of a regular cup of coffee.
The flavor profile of espresso is bitter and robust, with notes of various fruits or chocolate undertones. Since espresso comes from many other coffee beans, the flavor profile will depend on the beans.
Conclusion
Coffee comes in many different varieties and flavors. Choosing your favorite coffee flavors may take some time, but it’ll be a tasty experience.
Did you enjoy our overview of the top coffee flavors? Let us know your favorite coffee flavor in the comments below, and share this article!