Let’s Savor the Cup
Posted by Laura on 16 Jan 2012 at 7:35 am | Tagged as: Coffee & K-Cup Portion Packs, Other Stuff, Small Office Coffee
Cupping coffees is one of the most unique aspects of our craft. When we “cup” coffees, we formally evaluate their qualities using very precise sensory criteria. But cupping is not just the realm of coffee experts. You can use some of the same techniques when judging your morning brew. Here’s how:
- Breathe deep. If you have a bagged coffee, smell the ground coffee before it’s brewed. The fragrance speaks volumes about the
coffee’s origin and the care of its processing. - Brew. Breathe deep again. The aroma of brewed coffee also varies dramatically from origin to origin. Coffee can be: woodsy, earthy, citrusy, fruity, smoky, or nutty.
- Take a sip. Is it bright? This pleasing tang on the tongue is acidity. (Remember: Acidity does not refer to the PH level of the coffee.)
- Take another sip. Is the coffee earthy, nutty, fruity, toasty? There is huge diversity in the flavor of coffee from region to region, or even within a specific region. Try a few different blends or regions and see for yourself!
- And another sip. How does the coffee feel? What is its weight or texture? Full-bodied coffees may be buttery or even syrupy. Light-bodied coffees are more tea-like.
- Now you’re really starting to enjoy the coffee. How does each sip finish? The sensations that remain in the mouth when the coffee is gone are the finish, or aftertaste. Some coffees impart a sweet, lingering finish; others are more direct, even abrupt.
Before you know it, a full cup has elapsed, and you’ve been immersed in the wonderful wealth of sensoral information held within a single cup. Think about that coffee’s balance, how all of its individual flavors and taste sensations come together. Great coffees are balanced – great coffees have a whole composition that is greater than the sum of its parts.
So go ahead – savor your cup of coffee. We’ll be right there with you.
When is the Kona coffee coming back in k-cups?
Hi Barbara,
As you may have heard, coffee crop yields from Kona are down 50% due to natural crop cycles and unusually dry weather. This significant shortage has forced coffee roasters across the country to make changes to their Kona offerings, which, in our case, means discontinuing our Kona coffees. We can’t tell the future, so we don’t know when/if 10% Kona will return. But be sure of the fact that we are keeping an eye on news around the Kona crop and will be sure to share news again if anything changes.
Thanks,
Kristen
Id like to mention about the Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice Blend…. out of this world. Over the holidays I’ve been on the hunt for a delicious cup of “my own coffee to savor the cup” with not much luck, i have bought several brands that had no flavor what so ever, I was out shopping and spotted Green mountain blend and figured I’d give it a try, The smell alone woffed througout my house, as i came skipping through the house with a smile on my face poured it and already my mouth was wattering. To my delight was a beautiful cup of Pumpkin Spice that I didnt have to pick up at a convenience store, I had a moment sitting down savoring my cup of coffee before having to go work outside in 20 degree weather in pa. It made my day so much better, To bad its a limited edition as I love flavored coffees.
We bought our young adult Sunday School class a K-cup maker ! They love it ! Just wondering if there are any free samples of flavors and or coupons available ? Please let me know thanks ! Mel
Now that’s love, Karen! So glad you found Pumpkin Spice! Have you given Golden French Toast (our winter seasonal) a try? It’s very different from Pumpkin Spice, but I’ve hear that the buttery, maple-y flavor is a favorite for Pumpkin Spice fans, too.
Hi Mel,
That’s great! Coffee always ends up bringing people together. We don’t have any sampling promotions right now, but we do have our Deal Of the Week running on Green Mountain Coffee’s website – $3-off The Donut House Collection this week!
Thanks,
Kristen
Hi, I really enjoyed this blog post. Like wine, I enjoy a good cup of coffee! I’m trying to get better at tasting and really getting the tones right and pairings. This is just great information. If you have any other tips on really ‘tasting’ the quality please let me know.
Thanks,
Dinah
Love this brand of coffee, have not tried all Green Mountain types, but hope they are as good as coffee is……..
MARGIE
Pretty cool post. I didn’t realize there was so much involved in “cupping”. I’ll definitely enjoy my next cup a little more. Thanks for sharing.
I got hooked on Green Mountain Southern Pecan coffee when my husband and I lived in Maine. I stocked up on it when we moved back to the South and continued to order it in bulk until a couple of months ago when I got my Keurig. Brewing it one cup at a time is the next best thing to living in Maine and being able to go to just about any convenience store and take my pick of the flavors (I almost always chose Southern Pecan). I’ve ordered the K-cups from Amazon three times now and just placed my fourth order, the second with this company. The last arrived in record time and the price can’t be beat–believe me, I’ve checked. Add in the free shipping and you have a definite winner!