Some figs do not develop good flavor when the weather cools down. But picking too early has the same result. Making sure that the figs are drooping - and with some that the skin is splitting - not just soft. You have to learn to gauge each variety for best time to pick.

Johndoug,
yes certain conditions do cause that.
This year has been not too good for figs in my area with cool weather and first few figs i tasted were not sweet as last year, then weather this month turned warmer and steady and now figs im picking that are coming fast at once are very good.
Like fignut stated also about when to pick is also right on the money.

John:I am sure he tasted them after 1st of September.
We had very cool and rainy days,up to today.
Violette is never the same in bad weather like this.
In Fact most figs are inferior,in taste,in this kind of Sommer we had so far.
Happy Gardening
H2

Well, it seems my breba figs taste better than my main crop figs. I put the blame on weather. We had cooler weather this late, late Aug & Sept thus far. More rain in Sept except for the past 3 days. Also the evenings are cooler & colder nights till early morning. There were some souring. I attribute this to rain and likely early morning moisture on the figs. I have an abundance of main crop figs ripening. Not sure whether this is related to my olive oil touch I did on tuesday and whether it will affect taste. The 2 variants that have so far tasted poor are Black Jack & Brooklyn White(1st harvest).