How to Taste Different Flavors in a Cup of Coffee

What do you look for in your cup?

Relax, we know how confusing talking about coffee can be. When people start talking about specialty coffee and how bold its body is or how acidic it tastes, all we can think about is: isn’t coffee just bitter and sometimes sweet if you add sugar? At first, we might be skeptical about how different coffee can actually be depending on its properties and origins, but once you learn to tell its nuances and qualities, a new world of flavors and contrasts will open up right in front of you.

So where do we begin? Is there a right way to drink coffee to better understand its characteristics? On today’s article, we’ll explore how we can train our senses to enjoy all that coffee truly has to offer.

The first thing you’ll need to do: forget about sugar and cream. We tend to add different ingredients to our coffee to make it sweeter, but they mask the best properties hidden behind coffee when it’s brewed pure. You’ll be able to sense more if you drink it simple and black. That’s how professionals do coffee cupping, which is the practice of tasting different brews to identify their different notes.

Exactly what will you be able to distinguish when you try it this way? Among others, you get to discover a new fragrance, aroma, sweetness, acidity, body and the aftertaste. Here’s how to find them in your cup of joe.

Fragrance perception

This part of the process is done with your dry coffee grounds, because it’s believed to be the most aromatic coffee form. Try to clear your mind and let your memories take over when smelling your grounds. This way, you’ll be able to tell if your coffee has fruity, floral or herbal notes. Once you’ve identified the predominant fragrance, you can even go further and try to specify its qualities. If it’s fruity, what kind of fruit do you smell? Is it citric like oranges or sweet peaches?

Aroma perception

This is the first time you’ll be mixing coffee with hot water, which will provoke the coffee aromas to arise. This part of the process depends heavily on how the coffee was roasted; you’ll be able to differentiate these three main categories: nutty-like notes, caramel-like notes and cocoa-like notes. The last two are typical of darker roasts and they’re perfect to take along with chocolate desserts. If, on the other hand, you sense a nutty-like aroma, then you can try to find descriptors such as almonds, peanuts or hazelnuts.

Sweetness

It’s time to taste coffee! Yes, you finally get to drink it. The first sips will let you know how sweet your coffee really is. It can actually come in different notes, such as candy-like, malty-like and fruity-like sweetness. Try to concentrate on how sweet your coffee tastes, so you can actually tell these notes apart from other coffee qualities.

Acidity

Acidity is one of the most popular qualities of coffee. Highly acidic coffees are usually light roasted and they’re perfect to accompany with fruity desserts like pies. You can tell the acidic grade of your coffee if your tongue starts to salivate once you start tasting it thoroughly. Possible descriptors include acid comparable to oranges or lemons and acid similar to green apples.

Body

We’ve reached the famous body. What are people talking about when they say coffee has a full body? It doesn’t describe too much about the taste as it does about the texture. Think about water and the way it feels inside your mouth. Now think about maple syrup, one is fuller than the other and feels heavier in your mouth, right? That’s the body of the drink! To identify this quality, take a sip and fake chew the coffee on your tongue. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does it feel heavy like syrup or honey?
• Does it feel rugged because of small coffee ground particles?
• Is there no real feeling and it’s actually more watery?

Aftertaste

You’ve sipped your coffee all the way through, what’s left? This part of the cupping process simply refers to how much aftertaste comes with the brew? Help yourself by inhaling a little bit of air and allowing yourself to feel if there’s a strong taste left behind or if it’s gone almost completely.

Once you learn to distinguish the tones and nuances of every cup, you’ll also be able to enjoy coffee like never before. At That Coffee Roasters, part of our daily routine involves cupping and identifying our roasts qualities. It’s complex but a wonderful process, and we’re always amazed at how much some processing and farming methods can change a single drink.

What are your favorite flavors?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Coffee Industry Trends for 2018

Experts expect the coffee industry to keep growing.

As January hits us with its chilly weather, here at That Coffee Roasters, we are doing everything we can to keep our cups of coffee warm and cozy. Let temperatures drop and join us instead at exploring what this 2018 might bring for the coffee industry. What trends will we see? What changes are coming to the market? We might get some clues about it thanks to the coffee festivals that were celebrated last year.

We’re specifically speaking about World of Coffee 2017, which was celebrated in Budapest last year. At the coffee-specialty website The Perfect Daily Grind, they interviewed owners, roasters, manufacturers, competitors and coffee associations to find out more about where they believe our beloved drink is headed this 2018. Here’s what we can learn from what they had to say.

Coffee industry will keep on growing

Even though the last few years, we’ve seen how successful third wave coffee has become, experts were expecting the trend to slow down and the market’s growth to eventually flatten. However, that never happened. More and more consumers are getting into the world of specialty coffee and this allows the industry to keep on growing and specializing itself. Micro-roasteries, and cafes will continue to open in diverse places. Soon enough, Middle Eastern and Eastern Europe countries will be joining the wagon in full force.

Diversified coffee shop offerings

It seems like our beloved coffee shops’ menus will be expanding on this 2018. Some experts predict an increase in coffee shop diversification that will go beyond their regular desserts. Products like beer, wine and cheese are proving to be an interesting alternative to accompany our favorite coffee. This can result in the possibility of reaching new and wider audiences, which means a new opportunity for commercial growth.

New year, new preferences, new coffee

As coffee starts to reach new audiences, baristas will start getting more creative in what they offer. Cold brews, for example, are getting increasingly popular, especially among people who are not regular coffee drinkers. Since cold brew is sweeter in taste and allows a wide variety of recipes, it’s perfect for non-coffee-lovers demographics. Younger drinkers will be especially attracted by the new combinations we might taste this year.

We’ll probably be seeing a greater demand on sweet coffees over acidic ones. Sweet notes are the new trend and we’ll have to see if the industry is up to meet the market’s new demands.

Producers are getting the hang on alternative processing methods

Producing countries are expanding their array of processing methods like never before. Some of these include raised beds, honey processing, natural processing and lactic fermentation. Embracing diversity means that we might see a larger variety and options in the market. Buyers and consumers are asking for it, so farmers are providing it! However, many of these new processing trends are expensive and they might leave poorer farmers behind, as producers with resources will exploit them.

Brewers are focusing on water

Although technology is also taking center-stage with new and more precise machinery that expands options for baristas, coffee professionals are also inspecting the benefits and uses that water can add to the brew. Water components can have a very strong effect on our coffee’s taste, more than people would expect. Aspects like temperature and purity matter on all beverages. Water can affect performance, and the lifespan of coffee makers as well. It even seems that products like “third-wave water” are making their way into the community, so expect to hear more from it.

What would you like the coffee industry to put an eye on this 2018? What else would you like to see in your favorite cafés and roasters? Tell us all about it on our social media and stay updated to see where is coffee taking us for the next 12 months!

What do you want to see in the coffee industry?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Things Your Coffee Shop Can Do Better this 2018

Be sure to set realistic goals.

It’s finally that time of the year when we make wish lists hopefully expecting that this time we’ll be able to accomplish at least some of them in 2018. It’s not that simple, sadly. Life gets in the way, and then life gets in the way again, and then life gets in the way some more until you realize it’s December and your list remains mostly unchecked. Many times, this happens because we set unrealistic goals according to our circumstances. So whether you’re making a personal or a professional list, be honest with yourself before anything else. If you’re a coffee shop owner or worker, then we’re right here to back you up and give you some achievable ideas of how your coffee business can improve and grow this 2018.

Invest in automated systems

Having an automated inventory system can save you a lot of time, which is a good thing because time is money. Keep track of how often you need to replenish your stock (like coffee beans, cups, syrups, sugar and more), so you can use this data to invest in a program that can reorder supplies automatically. If you understand your ordering habits, you can save money by reducing how often you purchase less popular items and instead focus on buying the most-used products in cost-saving quantities.

In general, technology can be a great ally. Baristas and cashiers can save a lot of time if you offer them an updated Point of Sale. It can also help you keep track of inventory and save you up to 10% simply by reducing theft and order errors.

Encourage last-minute purchases

Take a look at how businesses like Starbucks always invest in their exhibitions. You can earn a lot of money if you encourage the desire to acquire more products when people are about to pay. Invest in good design and merchandising so you can offer a top-notch product. Exhibitions are great because they usually sell by themselves, as you don’t need any sellers to stand at the point of purchase. You can ally with other brands or make a brand of your own. What’s a better way to promote your business than to sell merch that portrays your colors and logo? But remember, just like we said, watch out for good design and quality.

Improve your social media strategies

Coffee shops are as social as the very social media platforms can be in 2018, and even more, because you get the benefit of the face-to-face interaction. That means that your café can exploit all the advantages of a good social media marketing strategy. If you’ve created an experience that's worth sharing, then all you need to do is encourage consumers to share it all across their social media profiles. This way, you’ll start communicating an identity that feels alive, real, and humanized. If people happen to catch some of that up on Instagram, they’ll be instantly tempted to visit you!

Customers are your best marketing allies

This is especially true when we’re talking about coffee shops. This 2018, don’t forget your customers! Ask for their opinion on new items to be added to the menu or listen to what they have to say about their favorite and least favorite beverages and meals. Make sure to provide a good service, because most people visiting coffee shops for the first time have actually done it motivated by a close friend’s recommendation.  You can even bribe them a little by giving them a free treat if they bring a friend to your cafe for the first time. Read your reviews and pay attention to what they’re saying about you on social media. Make them part of the experience!

There’s so much more you can do this 2018 to make your coffee shop’s experience truly unforgettable! Have you thought about your goals for this new year to come? Follow That Coffee Roasters on social media to learn more about how we can work together to give the best of the coffee world to our clients!

With hard work and good strategies, you can accomplish all your goals and more!

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters