1 speciality roast from 1 London roaster feature sultana notes.
Sultana in the cup presents as a soft, sweet dried-fruit quality with a gentle acidity and a slightly jammy depth, sitting somewhere between fresh grape and raisin without the sharpness of either. The sweetness tends to feel rounded rather than bright, often accompanied by a subtle syrupy body that lingers through the finish. This character typically develops when natural sugars concentrate during processing or when specific organic acids, particularly malic and citric compounds, interact with the roast at a light to medium level.
Sultana notes in coffee offer a gentle sweetness reminiscent of dried fruit, bringing warmth and subtle richness to the cup. Coffees carrying this flavour typically originate from Timor-Leste or Peru and are prepared using washed processing methods that highlight their cleaner, more delicate characteristics. Square Mile is the London roaster currently featuring this particular tasting note in their selection.
Speciality roasts carrying sultana notes, ordered by community rating.
London roasters with the most approved coffees carrying sultana notes.
Notes that most commonly appear alongside sultana in the same roasts.
Origin countries that most often produce sultana-forward coffees among London roasts.
Processing methods associated with sultana notes in London roasts.
This note is often associated with coffees from Ethiopia, where natural and anaerobic processing methods allow fruit sugars to ferment around the bean and leave behind pronounced dried-fruit qualities. Certain washed coffees from Yemen and some regions of Kenya can also carry sultana-like characteristics, typically where the variety and terroir encourage a naturally high sugar content. Processing method tends to play a significant role, with natural and honey-processed lots more likely to exhibit this quality than lightly processed washed coffees.
On a bag or cafe menu, look for tasting notes that mention dried fruit, raisin, or grape alongside descriptors like jammy sweetness or stone fruit, as sultana often appears within that cluster of flavours. Natural or anaerobic processing noted on the label is a useful indicator that this kind of dried-fruit sweetness may be present. Brew methods that emphasise body and sweetness, such as French press or a well-dialled filter, tend to allow this note to express itself more fully than espresso-based preparations, where acidity and intensity can sometimes mask it.
Take our 60-second flavour quiz and discover roasts across London that are aligned with your palate — including ones carrying sultana notes.