If you’ve ever heard baristas talk about “cupping,” you might wonder what it actually means. A coffee tasting, also known as cupping, is a standardized method used by coffee professionals to evaluate aroma, flavour, quality, and consistency. It’s how roasters, buyers, and cafés decide which beans make it into your cup.

Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks, but not all coffee is created equal. If you’ve ever wondered why some cafés charge more for a cup or why certain beans taste brighter and more complex, it can often come down to the difference between commercial coffee and specialty coffee.