What Is a Coffee Tasting (Cupping)?
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.
The Purpose of Cupping
Cupping allows coffee to be assessed objectively. It helps professionals:
Compare different origins or processing methods
Detect defects or inconsistencies
Evaluate roast profiles
Choose beans for blends or single-origin offerings
Because the method is standardized, it creates a level playing field when comparing coffees from different regions around the world.
How a Cupping Works
The process is simple but precise:
Freshly ground coffee is placed in cups.
Hot water is poured directly over the grounds.
The coffee steeps without stirring for around four minutes.
A crust forms on top, which is then broken to release aroma.
After skimming the surface, tasters use spoons to slurp the coffee loudly, spreading it across the palate.
That loud slurp is intentional — it aerates the coffee and helps tasters fully experience flavour and aroma.
What Do Tasters Look For?
During a cupping, professionals evaluate:
Aroma
Acidity
Sweetness
Body
Balance
Aftertaste
Overall clarity and complexity
Notes might range from chocolate and caramel to citrus, florals, or stone fruit. No two coffees taste exactly the same, which is part of the appeal.
Why It Matters
Cupping is at the heart of specialty coffee. It ensures quality, transparency, and consistency. It also helps tell the story behind a bean — where it was grown, how it was processed, and how it was roasted.
For coffee lovers, attending a cupping session can completely change how you experience coffee. It turns a daily habit into something thoughtful and sensory.
Bottom Line
A coffee tasting, or cupping, is the professional way of evaluating coffee. It’s structured, sensory, and surprisingly simple — yet it shapes every great cup you drink.
