The Weight of Soil

1. Much depends on the soil—but not everything. Coffee talk is all about the terroir, the taste derived from the soil. And flavor profiles follow continental patterns. But processing and freshness tend to have a bigger effect on taste than they do in the case of wine, because beans, after roasting, are volatile. Time between roasting and packing is important, as are the quality of the package and the time between opening the package and brewing the beans.