Ever wondered what cupping is and why it’s such a big deal in the coffee world? Well, you’re in luck because today, we’re breaking it down for you. Whether you’re a coffee aficionado or just curious, cupping is the method used to taste and evaluate coffee in a consistent, precise way. Here’s how it works and why it’s important.
What is Cupping?
Cupping is essentially a standardized way of tasting coffee. Think of it as a formalized coffee tasting session where we use the same method every time to ensure that we’re getting a true sense of a coffee’s flavor profile. It’s a practice that can be done anywhere in the world, whether you're in a cozy café in Winchester, out in the vineyards of Beers with Vinyl, or even high up in the mountains of Colombia.
The Basic Setup
Here’s what you need for cupping:
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A Container for Water: You’ll need a container to hold 200 milliliters of filtered water. The water should be clean and fresh to avoid any interference with the coffee’s taste.
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Coffee: Use 12 grams of coffee. This ratio is perfect for a balanced cup and can be replicated easily no matter where you are.
With these two ingredients, you’re ready to start the cupping process.
The Cupping Process
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Prepare the Coffee: Start by adding 12 grams of coffee grounds to your cupping vessel. Pour the hot water over the grounds and let it steep. This is your opportunity to observe the coffee’s aroma and initial flavors.
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Use the Right Spoon: A special cupping spoon is used for this process. It has a nice depth which helps when slurping the coffee. The goal is to spray the coffee around your palate and add a bit of oxygen, which helps to enhance the flavors.
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Rinse and Slurp: Before you taste, rinse the spoon to keep it clean. When it’s time to taste, carefully scoop a bit of coffee from the top of the liquid. Avoid stirring up the grounds at the bottom. Instead of sipping, slurp the coffee. This technique allows you to spread the coffee across your palate, making it easier to detect different flavors.
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Chew and Evaluate: As you slurp, let the coffee rest on your tongue for a couple of seconds. Chew it slightly before swallowing to get a deeper sense of its flavor profile. This step is crucial for understanding the full range of flavors in the coffee.
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Repeat: Once you’ve evaluated one coffee, rinse your spoon and move on to the next sample.
Why We Cup
Cupping is not just about tasting; it’s a key part of ensuring consistency and quality in coffee production. Here’s why we do it:
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Consistency: By cupping regularly, especially in production roasting, we can ensure that each batch of coffee maintains the desired flavor profile. It helps us catch any deviations from the norm.
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Quality Control: We cup every week to check the cleanliness and flavor consistency of our coffee. If we get new samples from importers, we cup them to evaluate if they meet our standards and consider them for future use.
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Blind Cupping: Often, we cup without knowing the coffee’s origin (blind cupping). This removes any biases and helps us assess the coffee purely on its merits.
Wrapping It Up
So there you have it—a quick guide to cupping. It’s a method that helps us ensure every cup of coffee is up to snuff, whether it’s a familiar favorite or a new sample we’re considering. With these tips, you can try cupping at home or understand better what’s happening in professional coffee evaluations.
Happy cupping, and cheers to discovering your next great coffee!
