How to taste coffee like a professional: A beginner’s guide

by Craft Coffee Canada February 26, 2025

How to taste coffee like a professional: a beginner’s guide

For premium coffee enthusiasts, the art of tasting coffee goes beyond simply drinking a cup. Professional coffee tasters, or "cuppers," analyze coffee using a structured approach that enhances their ability to detect subtle flavour notes, acidity levels, and overall quality. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned coffee lover, learning how to taste coffee like a professional will elevate your appreciation of the craft.

In this blog article, we’ll explore the key aspects of coffee tasting, how to develop your palate, and essential techniques used by experts.

Understanding the Basics of Coffee Tasting

Tasting coffee, or "cupping," is a systematic method used to evaluate coffee’s aroma, flavour, acidity, body, and aftertaste. By understanding these components, you can better differentiate between coffee varieties, origins, and roast profiles.

The Five Key Elements of Coffee Tasting

Aroma: The first step in evaluating coffee is smelling its aroma. Different coffee beans emit distinct fragrances, ranging from floral and fruity to nutty or chocolatey.
Flavour: The overall taste experience, including sweetness, bitterness, sourness, and any unique notes like caramel, citrus, or spices.
Acidity: The bright, tangy, or crisp sensation in coffee, often associated with high-quality beans.
Body: The texture or mouthfeel of the coffee, which can be light, medium, or full-bodied.
Aftertaste: The lingering flavour that remains after swallowing, which can range from clean and refreshing to deep and complex.

Essential Coffee Tasting Tools

To taste coffee like a professional, having the right tools is essential:

Freshly roasted coffee beans, preferably high-quality single-origin or specialty coffee, are the foundation of a good tasting experience.
A burr grinder ensures a consistent grind size, which is crucial for optimal extraction.
Using filtered water free from chlorine helps maintain the coffee’s natural flavours.
A scale is helpful for accurately measuring the coffee-to-water ratio, ensuring consistency.
Cupping bowls or glasses are used for evaluating multiple coffees side by side, while cupping spoons allow for slurping and aerating the coffee, which enhances flavour perception.

Step-by-Step Guide to Tasting Coffee Like a Pro

Follow these steps to taste coffee properly and train your palate like a professional cupper.

1. Smell the Dry Grounds

Before brewing, take a deep inhale of the freshly ground coffee.

The dry aroma reveals initial notes that can hint at the coffee’s flavour profile.

2. Brew the Coffee Correctly

For cupping, use a consistent brewing method.

Typically, coffee is brewed with hot water (195–205°F or 90–96°C) and left to steep for about four minutes.

3. Break the Crust

Once the coffee has brewed, a layer of coffee grounds forms on the surface. Use a spoon to break the crust and inhale deeply to capture the coffee’s full aroma.

4. Slurp the Coffee

Take a spoonful of coffee and slurp it loudly.

This aerates the liquid, distributing the flavours across your palate and enhancing your ability to detect taste notes.

5. Evaluate the Flavour Profile

Pay attention to sweetness, bitterness, acidity, and any distinct flavour notes.

Use a flavour wheel to help identify specific tastes like berries, nuts, chocolate, or floral undertones.

6. Assess the Aftertaste

Notice how long the flavours linger after swallowing. A high-quality coffee will leave a pleasant and complex aftertaste.

Developing Your Coffee Tasting Palate

Refining your coffee tasting skills takes time and practice. Trying different coffee origins is a great way to start, as beans from Ethiopia, Colombia, and Brazil each have unique regional flavour profiles. Experimenting with different roast levels—light, medium, and dark—will help you understand how roasting influences taste. Comparing multiple coffees side by side enhances your ability to detect subtle differences, while using a coffee flavour wheel aids in identifying specific notes like fruit, chocolate, or floral hints. To ensure accurate tasting, avoid consuming strong flavours beforehand, such as spicy, sugary, or heavily seasoned foods, as they can interfere with your perception of coffee’s natural flavours.

Common Coffee Flavour Notes

Coffee beans exhibit a diverse range of flavours. Here are some of the most common tasting notes found in specialty coffee:

Fruity – Berries, citrus, apple, cherry
Floral – Jasmine, rose, lavender
Nutty – Almond, hazelnut, peanut
Chocolatey – Dark chocolate, cocoa, caramel
Spicy – Cinnamon, clove, black pepper

FAQs About Coffee Tasting

What is the best way to train my coffee palate?

Regularly tasting different coffees, using a flavour wheel, and comparing beans from various origins will help develop your palate over time.

How do I identify acidity in coffee?

Acidity in coffee presents as a bright, crisp, or tangy sensation, often resembling citrus or fruit-like qualities. High-altitude coffees tend to have higher acidity levels.

Why do professional tasters slurp coffee?

Slurping aerates the coffee, spreading it evenly across the palate and enhancing the perception of flavour and aroma.

Can I taste coffee without a professional setup?

Yes! While cupping tools improve consistency, you can still evaluate coffee by brewing it properly and focusing on its aroma, flavour, acidity, and aftertaste.

What is the difference between body and acidity in coffee?

Body refers to the coffee’s texture and mouthfeel (light, medium, or full-bodied), while acidity describes its brightness and tangy characteristics.