How to taste coffee like a pro
Cupping, cleared up - build your palate with a simple routine.


TL;DR
- Slurp to spray coffee across your whole palate.
- Note aroma, acidity, body, sweetness and finish.
- Compare two coffees side by side to learn faster.
Tasting isn't magic - it's attention. A little structure turns 'nice coffee' into a vocabulary you can actually use.
A simple routine
- Smell the dry grounds, then the brew
- Slurp so it sprays across your tongue
- Rate acidity, body, sweetness and finish
- Always compare two cups

Written by
Mara WhitfieldHead Roaster · Q-Grader
Mara has cupped on three continents and leads our roastery.
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