What is a coffee cupping? Coffee Pirates

Today I would like to take you into the fascinating world of coffee cupping. Whether you are already a coffee connoisseur or are just getting into the coffee scene, cupping is a technique that will help you explore the nuances and flavors of your favorite beverage in a whole new way.

What is coffee cupping? Coffee cupping is a method of evaluating and comparing coffee varieties. Originally, cupping was used by professional coffee experts, roasters, and buyers to assess the quality of coffee beans. However, today it has become accessible to coffee lovers who want to sharpen their senses and develop a deeper understanding of the flavor profiles of different coffee varieties.

How does coffee cupping work?

Cupping is the systematic tasting and evaluation of coffee varieties. Ground coffee beans are placed in small bowls and hot water is poured over them. After the coffee has brewed for a short time, the crust that forms on the surface is removed and the aromas are perceived by inhaling the steam. The coffee is then tasted with special spoons to evaluate the taste, acidity, body and aftertaste.

The coffee is pulled through the front teeth (slurped), the added oxygen enables a better sensory perception of the individual aromas.

Cupping makes it possible to highlight the differences between coffee varieties and to recognize the subtle nuances of their aromas.

What do you need for a coffee cupping?

To do coffee cupping at home, you need some basic utensils:

1. Freshly roasted coffee beans of various varieties
2. A coffee grinder to grind the beans fresh
3. Hot water (ideally between 92°C and 96°C)
4. Cupping bowls or small cups
5. A cupping spoon or a teaspoon
6. A cupping form or a notebook to record your impressions

The benefits of coffee cupping

Cupping offers a number of benefits for coffee lovers:

1. Discovering new flavors: Cupping allows you to explore a variety of flavor profiles and aromas, helping you better understand your preferences and discover new coffee varieties.
2. Evaluate quality: If you are interested in buying high-quality coffee, cupping will help you evaluate the quality and taste differences between different beans.
3. Sensitization of the senses: Cupping sharpens your senses to taste, aroma and texture and allows you to fully appreciate the complexity of the coffee.
4. Community experience: Cupping can also become a community experience where you can share your experiences with other coffee lovers and exchange different impressions.

the coffee cupping formula

Here is the cupping "formula" (if you want to try it at home):
For 8.25 grams of coffee (whole beans) you need about 150 ml of water. If you need to change the amount due to the size of the container, adjust the amount according to the following scale: 0.055 g of coffee (whole bean) per 1 ml of water.

I hope that this insight into the fascinating world of coffee cupping has inspired you. Try it yourself and be surprised by the diverse aromas and flavors that coffee has to offer. I am sure that you will find cupping to be an enrichment to your coffee experience.

Enjoy your next coffees and stay tuned for more exciting coffee topics in our future newsletters!

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