How to Develop a Taste for Coffee

Developing a taste for coffee is an experience similar to tasting wine.

Just like wine connoisseurs, coffee lovers can take their taste for coffee to a higher level. Taking the time needed to develop your taste buds when it comes to selecting the best quality of coffee follows a similar process as the one for wine. Not every coffee is watery brown water, and you may be surprised at how many flavors are available when you take the time to develop your coffee palate.

Things You'll Need

• 2 small bags of different pre-grinded coffee beans
• 2 French coffee presses
• 2 cups
• Notepad and pen

Instructions

1. Buy two very different kinds of coffees beans. It is recommended to go to a specialty coffee shop and ask the roaster or shop assistant for her recommendations.

2. Buy two small French coffee presses. There is not need to buy large ones, or expensive ones. Find them at the same shop where you purchase your coffee beans.

3. Brew a small cup of each kind of coffee, using one French press per type of bean.

4. Once poured into cups, let the coffee cool a little bit. A cooler coffee will allow you to better discern the flavors and their nuances.

5. Taste both cups alternately. Start with a couple of sips of one coffee before switching to the other one. While tasting both coffees, think about their similarities and differences.

6. Start by focusing on the textures and main characteristics of your coffees, noting details such as their weight, their sweetness and their acidity. Use a notepad to write down your observations. Note down the words that come to mind when you taste each coffee.

7. Move your attention to the flavors, and again note down key words. Don't worry about being right or wrong. The flavors you notice in the coffee are directly related to the things you have tasted in the past. After all, if a roaster described a coffee as having strong or cherry flavors, but you had never tasted a cherry in your life, you would not be able to relate to that description.

8. Later on, compare what you have written to the roaster's description of his own coffee. This might allow you to pick up on hints and flavors that you might not have noticed as a beginner, but that will come to you more easily with time and practice.

9. Repeat the process as often as you can while keeping the experience relaxing and enjoyable. Once you find a type of coffee you appreciate, you can make it your daily brew.

References

• Passion For Coffee: How To Taste Coffee