Flavor & Cupping
Aftertaste
The flavor that lingers on the palate after swallowing or spitting coffee, also called the finish. A long, pleasant, evolving aftertaste is a hallmark of high-quality specialty coffee.
Mendalam
In cupping, aftertaste is scored on both duration and quality. The best coffees leave a sweet, clean, aromatic finish that evolves over 15-30 seconds — perhaps shifting from chocolate to stone fruit to floral. Negative aftertaste traits include astringency, dryness, bitterness, or a hollow feeling where flavor disappears abruptly. Roast defects like underdevelopment produce a papery, cereal-like finish, while over-extraction creates a lingering ashy bitterness.