Coffee experts, roasters, purchasers, and fans all rely on the process of coffee cupping to assess the flavour and quality of coffee beans.
It is a methodical approach to evaluating the flavour and aroma of coffee from various sources, roast levels, and processing techniques, side by side, to spot flaws like sourness, bitterness, or off-flavours. We will delve further into the realm of coffee cupping in this blog article, walking you through the crucial procedures to take, why they are so crucial, and what to look for to become an expert.
What is Coffee Cupping?
Coffee specialists utilize coffee cupping, a sensory evaluation procedure, to judge the character and quality of coffee beans.
Coffee tasters utilize standardized vocabulary to describe the flavour, fragrance, body, and acidity of coffee in this method of objective and standardized coffee evaluation.
Professionals are not the only ones that use cupping. Anyone can have a cup of coffee at home to explore new flavours, learn about other sources, and develop their palate.
Why is Coffee Cupping Important?
For the coffee industry, cupping is a crucial procedure since it supports uniformity and quality assurance. Before roasting, roasters use cupping to inspect green beans to make sure they match the requirements for aroma, flavour, and texture. Cupping also aids in locating flaws that should be corrected because they may impair the coffee’s flavour.
Cupping is a method used by buyers of coffee to choose the best beans from various origins. They can contrast many samples and select the ones that fit their pricing range and flavour preferences. The cupping procedure helps to maintain the consistency and quality of the coffee that customers buy by empowering them to make knowledgeable judgments about coffee quality.
Cupping is a fun and educational way for coffee lovers to learn more about the industry. By tasting several coffees, you can hone your taste and learn to distinguish between various flavours, smells, and textures. Cupping offers the chance to enjoy coffee more deeply and to feel it in its most basic, undistracted state.
How to Do Coffee Cupping?
To cup coffee, you need some essential equipment, including:
- Coffee beans (at least two distinct types)
- A coffee grinder
- A kettle
- Cupping bowls
- A cupping spoon
- A timer
- A cupping form (pen and paper)
Here are the steps to follow:
- Grind the coffee beans to a medium-coarse consistency. Use 9 grams of coffee per 150 ml of water. The grind size for cupping should be medium-fine and should be evenly ground to ensure that each coffee particle is extracted equally.
- If you have a kettle, where you can set the temperature, bring the water to 93°C (200°F). If not, boil water and let it cool down by simply removing the lid for 90 seconds (about 1 and a half minutes) or so. The water temperature is critical because it affects the extraction rate and the taste of the coffee.
- Pour hot water into the cups and let them sit for a minute. This step preheats the cup and helps to release the aroma of the coffee.
- Smell the aroma of the dry coffee and write down your impressions. This step is essential because it helps you to detect the scent of the coffee before you add water.
- Add the ground coffee to the cups and start the timer. The coffee-water ratio is critical because it affects the strength and flavour of the coffee.
- After 4 minutes, break the crust by stirring the coffee gently with the spoon. Breaking the crust helps to release the aroma and flavour of the coffee that is trapped in the upper layer of the cup.
- Smell the aroma of the coffee again and write down your impressions. This step helps you to detect the aroma of the coffee after brewing.
- Wait for the coffee to cool down and taste it with a spoon. Take a small sip and let it coat your entire mouth. This step helps you detect the coffee’s taste, body, and acidity.
- Spit the coffee out and write down your impressions. This step helps you to identify the aftertaste and any defects that you might have missed.
- Repeat the process for each coffee sample. This step helps you to compare different coffees and identify the ones that suit your taste preferences.
What to Look for in Coffee Cupping?
When cupping coffee, you should evaluate several characteristics, including:
- Aroma: the smell of the coffee, both dry and wet. Coffee aroma is an essential factor in coffee quality, influencing the overall taste and experience.
- Flavour: the taste of the coffee, including sweetness, acidity, bitterness, and body. The flavour is the most critical factor in coffee quality, influencing the overall taste and experience.
- Aftertaste: the lingering taste of the coffee after swallowing. The aftertaste is an essential factor in coffee quality, influencing the overall taste and experience.
- Acidity: the brightness of the coffee, which can be described as sharp, tangy, or fruity. Acidity is an essential factor in coffee quality, influencing the overall taste and experience.
- Body: the thickness and texture of the coffee, which can be light, medium, or full. The body is an essential factor in coffee quality, influencing the overall taste and experience.
- Balance: the harmony of flavours, where none overpowers the others. Balance is an essential factor in coffee quality, influencing the overall taste and experience.
- Cleanliness: the absence of defects, such as sourness, bitterness, or mustiness. Cleanliness is an essential factor in coffee quality, influencing the overall taste and experience.
By evaluating these characteristics, you can determine the quality and potential of the coffee. You can also compare different coffees and identify the ones that suit your taste preferences.
So there you have it, coffee cupping in a nutshell
Explore the variety of coffee flavours and fragrances with the fascinating and gratifying process of coffee cupping. Cupping can help you develop your taste buds and appreciate coffee more deeply whether you’re a coffee expert, shopper, or hobbyist.
Through the cupping procedure, you can recognize the distinctive qualities of various coffee beans, discover the origin of the coffee, and comprehend how the roasting process affects the finished product.
So the next time you’re enjoying a cup of your favourite coffee, take a moment to appreciate it and consider the intricate flavours and scents that give it character.
Who knows, you might find a new favourite coffee and be the next cupping pro world champ!