Coffee Tastes Like Tomatoes... Let Me Explain.

In 2018 I was chilling at Carabello Coffee in Newport, KY. Right after a morning game of working with the Cincinnati Reds, I had the whole afternoon to myself.

So, I walked across the bridge to Newport and settled at Carabello. I ordered a plain latte and sat at a little booth by the window.

I took a sip of this strong latte, and I couldn't help by think it tasted just like tomato soup. I thought I was crazy... but it tasted good so I drank it all.

Years prior, there were other occasions where a dark roast coffee would catch my tastebuds off guard and give me a hint of 'matoes.

After the latte incident, a couple weeks later, I got a plain cup of coffee at Starbucks, and that bold roast taste very similar to tomatoes as well...

I kept asking my friends and family if their coffee ever tasted like tomatoes, and the only responded with a laughing "what? no."

I jumped on Google to begin my search for why my tastebuds are going whack.

Apparently my tastebuds are gifted.

Gifted is an arrogant word to use. But, in fact I do have sensitive taste buds. This is what allows me to taste the tomatoe-y flavor.

In fact, this is how people taste-test coffee (you know, the professionals coffee people). They state that coffee beans originating from Kenya, "are grown in areas without shade, and the processing uses a post fermentation soak that can last over a day. This results in a sweet flavor characteristic to the coffees. In some cases, this results in a more tomato-like acidity, while in other cases a tartness that you will detect immediately. It’s a tropical taste that many coffee experts admit is their favorite. (Roasty Coffee)"

Anyone else run into this same thing with their coffee tastings?

“How to Taste Coffee Like a Barista.” Roasty Coffee, 18 Dec. 2020, www.roastycoffee.com/taste-coffee/.