Scentone Coffee Aroma Kit

The Scentone Aroma Kit is a professional sensory toolkit developed by the Scentone International Aroma Research Institute—a South Korea-based organization specializing in the standardization and training of olfactory perception. This toolkit is widely used in sensory training for Q Graders, roasters, and professional baristas. It also serves as a flavor map that supports quality control and traceability throughout the coffee supply chain.

The Scentone Aroma Kit comes in two main versions: the Coffee Flavor Map T100 (T100) and the Scentone Master Theorem 144 Aroma Kit (T144), featuring 100 and 144 representative aroma samples respectively, covering the entire journey from farm to cup. The aromas are grouped into 10 sensory categories for T100 and 11 for T144, based on their chemical properties and real-world sensory perception. These categories include:
Tropical Fruit, Citrus & Others, Herb & Flower, Stone Fruit, Berry-like, Cereal & Nut, Caramel & Chocolate, Spice, Vegetable, Savory & Others, and Others (Defects).

Among them, the Scentone T144 (Theorem 144) is currently the most comprehensive coffee-specific aroma kit in the world, encompassing the full coffee value chain—from green coffee aroma and processing, to roasting, extraction, and final cup experience.

Note: The articles in this section are based on materials from Scentone and are edited to interpret coffee aromas in Theorem 100 and Theorem 144, drawing from industry experience and accumulated references. The content is for informational purposes only.
If you already own the Scentone Aroma Kit or are interested in exploring coffee aromas, check out the detailed categories below!

Tropical Fruit

Tropical Fruit

Tropical Fruit is a sensory category in the Scentone Aroma Kit, featured in both the Coffee Flavor Map T100 (T100) and the Theorem 144 Aroma Kit (T144). This group encompasses flavor notes reminiscent of tropical fruits such as guava, mango, pineapple, lychee, and more. In the Scentone Aroma Kit lexicon, the Tropical Fruit category represents...
Berry-like

Berry-like

Berry-like is one of the sensory groups featured in both Theorem 100 and Theorem 144 of Scentone Arome Kit. This group represents flavor notes reminiscent of small, sweet-tart berries such as strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, and more. This flavor category is known for its vibrancy, liveliness, and clarity—often showcased in coffees with pronounced acidity and...
Citrus & Other Fruits

Citrus & Other Fruits

Citrus & Other Fruits is a prominent sensory group in the Scentone Aroma Kit Theorem, known for its vibrant, positive acidity. This category encompasses flavor notes reminiscent of fruits with bright, clean acidity or a refreshing aftertaste—such as orange, lemon, grapefruit, pomegranate, aloe vera, and more. On a chemical level, these flavor notes often originate...
Stone Fruit

Stone Fruit

Stone fruit is a sensory category in the Scentone Aroma Kit, representing flavor notes reminiscent of fruits with soft, juicy flesh surrounding a hard pit—such as peach, plum, cherry, and apricot. Flavors in this group often strike a unique balance between gentle sweetness, light acidity, and a rich, lingering aftertaste. Sometimes, it feels like biting...
Cereal & Nut

Cereal & Nut

Cereal & Nut is a sensory group in the Coffee Flavor Map T100 and Aroma Kit T144, bringing together rustic yet captivating aromatic notes. This category evokes the scent of toasty grains or the rich, buttery cores hidden beneath the thick shells of walnuts, almonds, chestnuts, and more. Unlike the bright and vibrant fruit aroma...
Caramel & Chocolate

Caramel & Chocolate

The Caramel & Chocolate category is one of the sensory groups in the Scentone Coffee Aroma Kit that beautifully combines sweetness and richness. It brings together aroma notes that instantly remind you of melting caramel candies, smooth chocolate, or a soft layer of buttercream frosting on a cake. If you’ve ever wondered how a cup...
Herb & Flower

Herb & Flower

Herb & Flower is a sensory group in the Scentone Coffee Aroma Kit that describes aromas reminiscent of herbs and blossoms. These are the fragrances that make a cup of coffee feel like nature is unfolding delicately—hints of jasmine, orange blossom, lavender, or the cool freshness of mint, acacia, tea leaves, or pine. From a...
Spice

Spice

Spice is a distinctive sensory group in the Scentone Aroma Kit Theorem, capturing aromatic notes reminiscent of dried spices such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, clove, basil, and even dried garlic. From a chemical perspective, this aroma group is closely linked to naturally occurring compounds in green coffee beans. These compounds can transform or become...
Vegetable

Vegetable

Vegetable is a rare yet indispensable sensory group in flavor mapping tools like the Scentone Coffee Aroma Kit. This group highlights aroma notes reminiscent of green vegetables, stems, damp soil, root crops, and more. Although some of these notes can be perceived as sensory defects—especially when they are overpowering, pungent, or harsh—others add intriguing complexity...
Savory & Other

Savory & Other

Savory & Other is a sensory group in the Scentone Aroma Kit, describing flavors reminiscent of savory foods and unique nuances such as musk, cheese, soy sauce, beef, smoke, dried fish, roasted seaweed, and more. Naturally, these are still inherent aromas found in coffee, perceptible through smell or taste. While some of these notes may...
Others

Others

In the Scentone Aroma Kit, the Others group includes unpleasant or off-putting aromas such as soap, synthetic plastic, disinfectant, raw rubber, or candle wax. These are generally undesirable in coffee and often indicate issues during fermentation, roasting, storage, or brewing. Research suggests that these aromas may result from uncontrolled fermentation, abnormal enzyme reactions, or improper...