The Cooking Inn : Coffee Terminology E PageSelect an item from the list to go to it's site
Earthiness:
Earthiness is a flavor defect deriving from careless, primitive
processing that in some contexts may be seen as virtues. Some Harrar
coffees sold in specialty stores may have a hint of wildness or
earthiness to them. Roasters from Italy often like to include some
earthy-tasting Brazilian coffees in their espresso blends. If a New
Orleans blend is at all authentic it also should have some Brazilian
wildness in it. If the earthy taste dominates to the point that the
coffee tastes distinctly sour or harsh, this quality becomes a flavor
defect; you won't find such coffees in specialty stores. Your Sumatran
sample may have a hint of earthiness or mustiness to it, but it
shouldn't.
Earthy:
An odor taint in the coffee beans that produces a dirt-like taste
sensation. Results when fats in the coffee beans absorb organic
materials from the ground in the drying process during harvesting. Also
referred to as dirty and groundy. The undesirable odor and taste of
freshly turned soil is found in low-graded batches. Due to poor
preparation conditions and botanical origins of the green coffee.
Reminiscent of potato flavor also found in instant coffees.