Hosting a Coffee Cupping at Home
A home cupping is the most educational party you can throw with a kettle. Pick three coffees that are meaningfully different: a washed Latin, a natural Ethiopia, and something that leans chocolatey. Label them A, B, C so nobody gets biased by the bag art. Coffee bags are basically dating profiles.
Grind coarse, dose evenly, and pour water just off boil. Set a timer and let it steep. The crust break at 4 minutes is the fun part: you lean in, break the crust with a spoon, and inhale. It smells like you are suddenly a person with hobbies. Skim the foam and grounds gently. No stirring like you are mixing paint.
Now the slurping. Yes, you have to. The point is to spray the coffee across your palate so you can taste sweetness, acidity, and finish. Someone will feel silly for ten seconds, then start describing “peach ring” with confidence. This is how it always goes.
Take short notes, pick a favorite, and then brew that one as a normal cup. Cupping is a tasting tool, not a lifestyle. Also, serve cookies. People are brave when they are fed, and coffee tastes better when everyone is smiling.