Every day, thousands of people search for terms like:

• How to cup coffee

• How to taste coffee properly

• Coffee cupping guide

• How to evaluate coffee flavours

And there’s a reason: coffee cupping has become one of the biggest trends in specialty coffee, especially among home brewers.

Cupping used to be something only roasters and Q-graders did inside roasting labs. Now, anyone with fresh beans, boiling water and a spoon can run a proper cupping session at home.

Cupping helps you:

• Understand flavour notes

• Compare beans side-by-side

• Choose the perfect Coffee Hero roast for your taste

• Improve your brewing skills

• Identify quality vs stale beans

• Train your palate

What Is Coffee Cupping? (Simple Explanation)

Coffee cupping is a standardised method for tasting and evaluating coffee. It’s used globally by:

• Coffee roasters

• Farmers

• Baristas

• Q-graders

• Importers

• Specialty cafés

The basics always include:

1. Smelling the dry grounds

2. Adding hot water

3. Breaking the crust

4. Slurping the coffee

5. Grading flavours, aromas and textures

According to Wikipedia, Coffee cupping is a controlled sensory test used to compare coffees using identical preparation conditions.

Why You Should Cup Coffee at Home

Whether you're tasting one Coffee Hero origin or comparing three, cupping helps you:

1. Discover your preferred flavour profile

Fruity, nutty, chocolatey, bright, floral, cupping helps you identify what you love.

2. Know whether a bean is actually fresh

Stale beans taste flat. Cupping exposes freshness immediately.

3. Improve ALL your brewing methods

When you understand flavour structure, you automatically brew better espresso, pour-over, and cold brew.

4. Avoid buying beans you don’t enjoy

Instead of guessing based on a label, you learn to trust your palate.

5. Train the senses like a sommelier

Smell, taste, aroma memory and flavour recognition all improve dramatically.

What You Need for Coffee Cupping (Simple Setup)

You don’t need professional lab equipment. Here’s everything you need — most of which you already own.

Essential Tools:

• Fresh coffee beans

• Burr grinder

• Digital scale

• 2–4 identical cups/mugs

• Kettle (92–96°C water)

• Timer

• 2–3 spoons

• Notebook or tasting sheet

Optional but recommended: filtered water, palate cleansers (plain crackers), and a flavour wheel.

Step-by-Step: How to Cup Coffee at Home (Complete Guide)

Below is the official step-by-step process, adapted for home cupping but aligned with professional protocols.

Step 1: Choose Fresh Beans

Always start with freshly roasted beans, ideally:

• Within 7–21 days of roast for optimal aroma

• From different origins so you can taste contrast

Coffee Hero beans are roasted fresh daily, giving you the best possible cupping results.- explore our freshly roasted coffee beans

Step 2: Grind Your Coffee (Medium-Coarse)

Use 8.25g of coffee per 150ml water - this is the most widely accepted cupping ratio.

Grind medium-coarse, similar to a Kalita or Chemex grind.

Do not cup pre-ground coffee - the flavour will be muted.

Step 3: Smell the Dry Aroma

This is your first sensory step.
Cup your hands around the bowl, inhale deeply and write notes such as:

• Fruity

• Nutty

• Caramel

• Floral

• Cocoa

• Berry-like

• Earthy

This is called dry fragrance.

Step 4: Pour Hot Water (92–96°C)

Fill each cup with hot water to the rim.
Do not stir yet.

The grounds float at the top forming a “crust”.

Start your 4-minute timer.

Step 5: Break the Crust

At 4 minutes:

• Take your spoon

• Stir the crust gently 3 times

• Inhale the burst of aroma

This is the wet aroma and often reveals the coffee’s true character.

Remove the foam and grounds floating on top.

Step 6: Slurp Like a Pro

Once the coffee cools to warm (not hot), use your spoon:

• Scoop a spoonful

• Slurp explosively to aerate the coffee

• Spread across your palate

Professional tasters “spray” the coffee across the tongue for maximum aroma detection.

Step 7: Take Notes at 3 Temperatures

Coffee changes dramatically as it cools:

1. Hot: bold, sweet, bright

2. Warm: clearer notes, more acidity or fruit emerges

3. Cool: defects appear, aftertaste becomes obvious

Take notes on:

• Sweetness

• Acidity

• Body

• Flavour clarity

• Aftertaste

• Balance

Cupping Flavour Wheel (Beginner-Friendly Terms)

Here are the most common flavour families beginners can identify:

Fruit Notes

• Berry

• Citrus

• Stone fruit

• Tropical fruit

Sweet Notes

• Caramel

• Brown sugar

• Honey

• Chocolate

Nut & Spice Notes

• Almond

• Hazelnut

• Cinnamon

• Nutmeg

Other Notes

• Floral

• Earthy

• Herbal

• Woody

How to Score Coffee Like a Pro (Simplified)

Professionals use an SCA score sheet.
Here is a simplified version you can use at home:

Total score → Coffee quality level:

• 85+ Exceptional

• 80–84 Specialty

• 75–79 Very good

• <75 Commercial quality

Common Mistakes Beginners Make (EASY Fixes)

❌ Using pre-ground coffee

Fix: Always grind fresh.

❌ Cupping too soon after roasting

Coffee needs 48–72 hours rest after roasting.

❌ Using water that’s too cold

Below 90°C = under-extracted, sour.

❌ Doing too many coffees at once

Start with 2–3 samples.

❌ Not taking notes

Cupping is 50% taste, 50% observation.

How to Use Cupping to Choose the Perfect Coffee Hero Beans

This is where cupping becomes fun and practical.

If you like bright, fruity flavours:

Try:

• Ethiopian single origins

If you like chocolatey, smooth coffee:

Try:

• Brazil origins

• Medium roasts

• Balanced blends

If you like bold, strong flavour:

Try:

• Kick Start

• Dark roasts

• Espresso blends

BONUS LEARNING: HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR COFFEE PALATE- TASTE COFFEE LIKE A PRO

⭐ Try a Coffee Hero Sample Pack

Perfect for cupping beginners → https://coffeehero.com.au/ 

⭐ Browse Freshly Roasted Beans

⭐ Join Our Coffee Subscription

Fresh beans delivered on your schedule → 
https://coffeehero.com.au/collections/coffee-subscriptions

⭐ Learn More in Our Brew Guides

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