Want to try coffee the way the pros do it? Here’s how to have a coffee cupping as outlined by the Specialty Coffee Association! This is the same process Q Graders (quality) use to sample every new coffee we bring in to give us a cupping score and tasting notes.
Supplies
- Coffee
- Grinder
- Scale
- Small Bowls
- Timer
- Hot water/ kettle
- Soup Spoons
- Cups
Process
- Select the coffees you want to try and make sure you have enough bowls for them. In case of error, the pros will do 2-3 bowls of the same coffee. At home, you make the rules.
- Grind your beans! A medium grind (like for pour over) will probably work best. Add 10g of coffee grounds to each bowl. Make sure you label which coffee is in each bowl.
- Pause for a moment to smell each coffee. Notice the different aromas. If you’re taking notes, jot some down.
- Brew the coffee! Heat your water to 209°. Start your timer for 4 minutes. Use your scale to add 17g of water to each bowl. Include an extra bowl of only hot water. This will be your rinsing bowl.
- Take another sniff. Jot down some notes about how the aroma has shifted now that the grounds are wet. Don’t touch the coffee yet, and notice how the grounds form a crust on top of the bowl.
- When the timer goes off, using a spoon, gently push the grounds forming the crust back and forth a couple times. Some of the grounds will sink to the bottom. Keep your spoon near the surface to not disturb the grounds that have sunk. As you break the crust, take another sniff. And don’t forget to rinse your spoon in the rinsing bowl between bowls.
- Next, carefully use 2 spoons to remove the foam from the top of each bowl and toss it in an empty bowl. The skimmed bowls should now look like a cup of coffee. Again, rinse your spoon between scoops.
- Now we’ve come to the fun part: tasting! Use your spoon to scoop up some coffee. If you’re hosting friends and don’t want to double dip, scoop the coffee into a cup that you’ll drink from. Taste your coffee. Go through our tasting guide or use a tasting wheel to help you observe. Write down some notes if you want. And be sure to rinse your spoon between samples.
- Try each coffee multiple times and notice how the flavor changes as it cools.
Need some coffee to cup? Consider trying our Roast of the Month or some of our Award Winners!