Coffee cupping, also known as coffee tasting, is a globally standardized method for evaluating the qualities of a coffee. It’s a ritual held by every contributor to the coffee supply chain: producers, importers/exporters, roasters, and baristas.
The Origin and Purpose of Coffee Cupping
Cupping is believed to have originated in the late 1800s, when merchants would taste a variety of coffees to decide which ones they wanted to buy and also check for consistency. Today, the industry uses cuppings in the same way as those 19th-century merchants did: to assess a coffee’s characteristics, make purchasing decisions, and confirm consistency.
The Process of Coffee Cupping
The process of coffee cupping involves several steps, each designed to reveal different aspects of the coffee’s character. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Grinding the Coffee: Each coffee sample is ground to a coarse setting, similar to coarse sea salt.
- Smelling the Coffee: The dry aroma of each coffee is assessed.
- Adding Hot Water: Hot water is poured into each bowl, making sure to spin the grounds for agitation.
- Breaking the Crust: At four minutes, the crust of the coffees is broken by pushing the grounds back with a spoon and inhaling the wet aroma.
- Cleaning the Bowls: The floating grounds are skimmed off with two spoons.
- Tasting the Coffee: After waiting until 11 to 13 minutes, the coffees are slurped with a cupping spoon, spraying them over the tongue and evaluating the flavor, acidity, body, and aftertaste.
The Importance of Coffee Cupping
The most important part of cupping is standardization; cupping allows for a shared method and language by which to evaluate product. This provides invaluable opportunities for communication with supply chain partners – farmers and exporters cup the same way as roasters and baristas, and this can complete a feedback loop that leads to better quality and value.
But cupping isn’t just about purchasing decisions and quality control: it can also be used to determine ideal roast profiles, brewing methods, and more.
Conclusion
Coffee cupping is an essential practice in the coffee industry. It provides a standardized method for assessing the quality of coffee, making purchasing decisions, and ensuring consistency. Whether you’re a coffee professional or a coffee enthusiast, understanding and participating in coffee cupping can greatly enhance your appreciation of this beloved beverage.