If you've ever wondered how we select the finest coffees from around the world for our latest offerings, you're in for a treat! Before we order a batch of coffee beans, we embark on a flavorful adventure known as cupping. This process is not only a ton of fun but it plays a crucial role in ensuring that your coffee experience is nothing short of exceptional.

Cupping is a globally recognized method conducted by people all across the seed-to-cup process—from producers, roasters, and baristas to everyone in between—to pinpoint a coffee’s flavors and qualities. Think of it as a sophisticated coffee-tasting ritual, where the aroma, flavor, and body of each coffee are meticulously evaluated. One of the most incredible aspects of coffee cupping is its ability to provide an unbiased assessment of different coffees. By following a standardized procedure, personal biases are set aside, allowing the inherent characteristics of the coffee to speak for themselves.

Cupping isn't just about selecting beans; it's also a valuable tool for quality control. Roasters use this method to ensure that every batch of coffee they produce maintains consistent flavor profiles and quality. By regularly cupping their roasted beans, they can catch any variations or defects early on, guaranteeing that you enjoy the same excellent taste with every cup. Recreationally, it can also be a fascinating and enjoyable experience, especially when done with friends. I cherish my first-ever cupping experience, when three friends and I decided to do an impromptu cupping session. We were all coffee enthusiasts but with no prior experience. Taking five coffees we had between us, we set up a cupping experience based on videos we had watched online.

My first cupping experience

We began by grinding all the beans we brought and then put them in five different bowls. We made sure that the bowls were random, and we had no idea which coffee we were tasting when we started. We started by smelling the coffee, taking turns to express what we thought each one smelled like. We found this part of the process to be very entertaining as we all had different ideas about what each coffee smelled like. For example, we thought one of the coffees smelled of roasted tomatoes, while another had a chocolatey aroma.

Once we had gone through the fragrance process, we poured hot water into each bowl and let the coffee steep for a few minutes. During the steeping process, we observed the coffee and how it bubbled and swirled. It was like a little science experiment. After the coffee had time to steep, we peeled back the crust that had formed on top of each bowl and took a sip of each coffee, taking turns to share our thoughts on what we thought it tasted like. We were surprised at how different each coffee tasted. Some tasted fruity, while others had a more nutty or chocolatey flavor. One of the most enjoyable parts of the cupping experience was comparing and contrasting each other's opinions. We found that each of us had a unique perspective on what we tasted and smelled. For example, the coffee that we thought smelled like roasted tomatoes tasted like tomato soup. It was a truly unique experience.

Now—working at Tala—I've had the privilege of personally participating in a few cupping sessions, and each time has been an incredible and delightful experience. My most recent adventure involved cupping five of our single-origin coffees, all set up anonymously to keep us on our toes. It began with a tantalizing sniff of the dry coffee grounds, unveiling the unique fragrance of each blend. Then, they poured water into each cup, following a precise 1:18 ratio, allowing the brew to steep for a patient four minutes. As time passed, a creamy foam crust formed on the surface, and that's when we broke it with a spoon, leaning in to savor the captivating aroma of each coffee. After we had scooped away the crust and let it cool to a comfortable temperature, it was time for the grand finale – the slurp! This technique introduces air into the coffee, awakening all our senses to the intricate flavors. It's at this moment that the coffee's true character leaps out, revealing its distinctive acidity, sweetness, and flavor notes that truly make each cup a unique and memorable experience.

So, the next time you sip a delightful brew from our collection of single-origin coffees, remember the exciting journey that takes place before the beans even reach your cup. Coffee cupping is a sensory experience that bridges the gap between coffee producers, roasters, and coffee lovers like you. It's a celebration of the diverse flavors our planet has to offer, and we invite you to join us on this educational and fun-filled adventure through the world of coffee. Who knows, you might discover your new favorite coffee!

Try cupping at home!

If you want a cupping experience of your own you don’t have to wait. Do as I did and grab a couple of friends and a few different coffees and do a DIY cupping at home. Follow the steps below to guide you through the process.

Take note: For a blind tasting, transfer each coffee into an ambiguous container and have someone not participating label it with a letter or number corresponding to the coffee you’re using. You can also do an open tasting, with the coffee bags or labels visible, but know that it can sometimes bias and inhibit the experience as you’re tasting.

Take note: In cupping, fragrance refers to the smell of the dry grounds, while aroma refers to the smell of the coffee once water is added.

Take note: Just like in wine tasting, when cupping coffee participants often choose to spit each slurp into a cup. This can sometimes aid in cleansing your palate between sips and can also prevent you from getting too caffeinated as you go along, but the choice is totally yours!

At Tala, we use cupping to decide between new crops as well as for quality control of our existing coffees. Recreationally, it can be a really enlightening experience for widening your palate and deepening your appreciation for the complexity of coffee.