World Coffee Research Sensory Lexicon

Floral

A sweet, light, slightly fragrant aromatic associated with fresh flowers.

Fruity

A sweet, floral, aromatic blend of various ripe fruits.

Sour / Fermented

Acidic or fermented aromas, ranging from yogurt-like to winey or vinegary.

Green / Vegetative

Fresh to raw plant notes, including herb-like, hay-like, or leafy characteristics.

Other

Off-notes and negative attributes such as stale, cardboard, or musty.

Roasted

Roast-derived characters from toasty to burnt.

Spices

Pungent or warm spice notes, including pepper and brown spices.

Nutty / Cocoa

Nut and chocolate/cocoa aromas, from light nuts to rich dark chocolate.

Sweet

Sugary and caramelized notes, from honey and vanilla to molasses and brown sugar.

Black Tea

Tea-like oxidized leaf aroma, musty-brown and slightly bitter.

Chamomile

Sweet, slightly fruity herbal tea scent with a honeyed floral character.

Rose

Delicate petal fragrance, sweet and slightly green.

Jasmine

Heady, exotic flower aroma—rich, sweet, and intensely perfumed.

Violet

Powdery, sweet-green floral with a subtle earthy underpinning.

Orange Blossom

Light, citrus-tinged floral scent reminiscent of fresh blossoms.

Berry

Fresh red or black berry qualities—strawberry, raspberry, blackberry.

Dried Fruit

Concentrated, sweet-tart aromas of raisins, dates, figs.

Other Fruit

Non-berry fruit—apple, pear, stone fruit characters.

Citrus Fruit

Bright, zesty notes of lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit.

Tropical Fruit

Exotic fruit aromas—mango, pineapple, passionfruit, guava.

Yogurt

Milky-acid aromas like fermented dairy, sour cream notes.

Winey

Fermented grape or wine must aroma—tart, fruit-acid character.

Alcohol / Fermented

Strong boozy note, reminiscent of spirits or over-fermented fruit.

Olive Oil

Green, slightly bitter fatty oil aroma with astringent character.

Raw

Harsh, unripe vegetal—green bean, raw pea pod aroma.

Fresh

Bright, leafy greens—fresh-cut grass or spinach notes.

Dark Green

Heavier notes: kale, broccoli stem, fir needles aroma.

Hay-Like

Dry grass or hay aroma—earthy, slightly dusty green scent.

Herb-Like

Aromatic herbs—basil, oregano, cilantro green herbal fragrance.

Stale

Dull, flat aroma—loss of freshness, oxidized paper or grain.

Cardboard

Dry, papery, wood-pulp odor—worn-out paperboard character.

Papery

Light paper aroma—thin, dry cellulose note.

Moldy / Damp

Wet basement, mildew, musty damp organic material.

Musty / Dusty

Dust-laden, stale storage room or attic aroma.

Musty / Earthy

Soil-like, lumpy mushrooms, forest-floor damp earth.

Animalic

Leather, barnyard, or wet animal fur aroma—highly unpleasant.

Burnt

Acrid, charred notes—strong roast overdrive.

Cereal

Toasted grain—wheat toast, cornflake, rice crisp aroma.

Smoky

Wood smoke, campfire embers—smoldering organic material scent.

Toasty

Warm, light roast—bread crust, pastry, warm toast aroma.

Pungent

Sharp, penetrating spice note—clove or allspice like intensity.

Pepper

Cayenne or black peppery bite—warm, tingling spice sensation.

Brown Spice

Nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice—sweet-warm spice blend aroma.

Nutty

Generic roasted nut aroma—neutral nut kernel note.

Hazelnut

Sweet, buttery hazelnut scent—typical praliné aroma.

Almond

Marzipan-like, sweet almond kernel fragrance.

Chocolate

Milk chocolate smooth, sweet cocoa aroma.

Dark Chocolate

Bitter-sweet dark cocoa with roasted cocoa nib depth.

Cocoa

Dry cocoa powder, slightly tannic chocolate note.

Brown Sugar

Molasses-rich sugar aroma, warm and sticky sweet.

Molasses

Deep, dark sugarcane syrup aroma—rich, earthy sweetness.

Maple Syrup

Distinctive maple sap sweetness, lightly caramel and woody.

Caramelized

Burnt-sugar candy or crème brûlée aroma—sweet and toasty.

Honey

Floral-sweet viscous syrup aroma—lightly herbal backnote.

Vanilla

Pure vanilla bean aroma—creamy, sweet and slightly spicy.

Vanillin

Chemical vanilla note—sharper, less complex than pure vanilla.

Overall Sweet

General sugary impression without specific source note.

Sweet Aromatics

Generic sweet fragrance—non-specific sugary aroma.