Understanding the Coffee Bag Label (Part 1): What to Know About Coffee Blends
How do you usually choose which coffee blends to buy? Do you understand the information on the coffee label?
Here’s a simple guide to help you decode the coffee label, especially if you are just starting your coffee journey. Do keep in mind that different coffee roasters may include various details on their labels, but these tips here will give you a good foundation.
Watch the video.
What is Specialty Coffee?
First up, let’s clarify what it means when a coffee is labelled as “Specialty.”
Specialty coffee refers to the highest grade of coffee beans, typically soring 80 points or higher on a 100-point scale according to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). Only Grade A coffee beans or better are considered for this category. So when you see “Specialty Coffee” on a label, it signifies high-quality beans, which is one reason why these coffees are often priced higher than the standard supermarket coffees. At Mighty Wonders Coffee, our coffee products are all Specialty Coffee grade. We exclusively deal with specialty-grade coffee. While our coffee labels may not explicitly state “Specialty Coffee,” you can rest assured that all our beans meet the strict standards of specialty coffee quality by default. We are dedicated to providing only the best beans in every cup!
Product Name and Coffee Bean Origins
But the real critical info comes from the countries listed on the label, which indicate the origins of the beans used in the blend. A coffee blend is essentially a mix of single-origin beans from different places. It takes a skilled roaster to craft a good blend because they must understand how unique flavours from each origin will interact.
What do the countries listed on the label mean?
For example:
- Brazil: Known for coffee with chocolatey and nutty flavours
- Ethiopia: Famous for floral and fruity notes
- Colombia: Known for balanced acidity and bright, fruity flavours
So, when you see multiple countries on a coffee blend label, it gives you a preview of the complexity and the flavour balance the roaster was aiming for. A blend featuring beans from several origins mean the roaster has carefully selected and balanced each to achieve a unique and harmonious flavour profile.
Tasting Notes
Finally, you will often see tasting notes listed on the label. These are the flavours you can expect to taste when you brew the coffee, and they give you a glimpse into what makes each blend special.
At Mighty Wonders Coffee, we provide tasting notes for both espresso and milk-based coffee. For example, our Mighty Blossom blend features flavours like “Rose, Cherry Blossom, Blackberry, Fizzy Lime and Bergamot”, when brewed as an espresso. In the specialty coffee world, these flavour notes are a big deal and many coffee lovers actively seek out specific beans to experience these unique tastes. But do not worry if you are new to this and do not immediately pick up these flavours. It takes time to train your palate, and some flavours can be quite subtle or become more noticeable as the coffee cools or when milk is added. Savour the coffee and see how it evolves in your cup.
Other Label Details
For example, when you see “Light Roast” on the label, it generally means the beans have been lightly roasted to preserve more of their original flavour, often resulting in a brighter, fruitier taste. On the other hand, “Dark Roast” means the beans have been roasted longer, leading to a more caramelised, bolder flavour. In general, light roasts tend to have higher acidity, while dark roasts have lower acidity. Some labels will indicate this acidity level for reference.
At Mighty Wonders Coffee, you will find the roast level information on each product’s webpage, but we typically do not include acidity levels on our labels.
