Flavour note

Clove coffee in London

5 speciality roasts from 5 London roasters feature clove notes.

Clove in speciality coffee presents as a warm, slightly sharp spice note with a faintly numbing or peppery edge, sitting somewhere between sweet and medicinal. In the cup it tends to add depth and complexity rather than brightness, often weaving through the finish rather than leading the initial sip. It is most commonly associated with eugenol, a naturally occurring aromatic compound found in coffee's green bean chemistry, and tends to be drawn forward by darker roast development or certain fermentation-heavy processing methods.

Clove notes in coffee conjure warm, slightly peppery spice with subtle sweetness that unfolds on the palate. Coffees displaying this character typically hail from Brazil, China and Ecuador, often crafted through anaerobic or natural processing methods that enhance their aromatic complexity. Five London roasters, including Origin, Scenery and Gotham, currently feature this distinctive flavour profile across their collections.

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Top rated clove coffee roasts in London

Speciality roasts carrying clove notes, ordered by community rating.

Roasters producing clove coffee

London roasters with the most approved coffees carrying clove notes.

Notes that most commonly appear alongside clove in the same roasts.

Where clove coffee comes from

Origin countries that most often produce clove-forward coffees among London roasts.

How clove coffee is processed

Processing methods associated with clove notes in London roasts.

Anaerobic 1 Natural 1

How clove notes develop

Coffees from Indonesia, particularly those processed using the wet-hulled method known as Giling Basah, often exhibit clove-like spice as part of a broader earthy, herbal character. Certain naturally processed Ethiopian and Yemeni coffees can also carry this note, typically as part of a complex dried-fruit and spice profile that emerges from extended contact between the bean and fruit during drying. Robusta-influenced blends and aged or monsooned coffees sometimes produce a similar quality, though in those cases it may present with less clarity.

What to look for

On a bag or menu, clove is often listed alongside other warm spice descriptors such as cinnamon, cardamom, or black pepper, and may appear within tasting notes that reference dried fruit or earthiness as well. It tends to come through particularly well in brew methods that allow longer extraction and fuller body, such as French press, moka pot, or espresso. If you are exploring for this note specifically, naturally processed or wet-hulled Indonesian single origins are a reasonable starting point.

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