The Art of Cupping: Why You Should Master It

By Dr. Jorge Ferrey

As a barista, the craft of coffee involves more than just pulling the ideal espresso shot or steaming creamy milk. One of the most foundational practices for deeply understanding coffee is Cupping—a worldwide standard technique used to assess coffee’s aroma, flavor, and characteristic coffee notes. Whether you’re a specialty café professional or an aspiring home barista, cupping is an essential ritual for mastering your palate and serving your customers with heart. 

Cupping isn’t just for roasters or Q-graders. It’s a powerful tool for anyone passionate about coffee. Here’s why it matters: 

Understand Flavor Profiles: Identify notes like citrus, chocolate, or berries. 
Control Quality: Detect defects before they reach the customer. 
Choose the Best Beans: Make informed buying decisions. 
Train Your Team: Align your team’s palate and vocabulary. 

Cupping is also a moment of connection—a chance to pause and remember that behind every cup of coffee is a person. 

For the Producer 
Every aroma and flavor represent months and years of care and of hard labor. It starts with selecting the right bean (seed), then planting the seedling, and taking care of the coffee plant for three years. All of that happens long before picking that burgundy red cherry, which after roasting and then cupping, validates their effort. 

For the Retailer 
It’s a responsibility check. Retailers cup to ensure that what they sell aligns with their standards and ethical values. 

For the Barista 
Cupping is a silent thank you to every hand that helped produce the beans. It deepens our storytelling and service. 

Step-by-Step: How to Cup  

1. Weigh & Grind 
Use 8.25g of coffee per 150 ml of water or a 1:18 relation (11gr to 200ml for easy math). Use a medium grind, coarsely, like sea salt.  

2. Smell the Dry Grounds 
Place the coffee into cupping bowls and smell the dry grounds. This is your first impression—note any standout aromas. 

3. Add Hot Water 
Use water at ~93°C (200°F), distributing evenly to the coffee ground all the way to the top of the cupping bowl. Start your timer. 

4. Break the Crust
At 4 minutes, break the crust gently using a cupping spoon.  
Inhale deeply—this is one of the most aromatic moments. Rinse your spoon between samples to prevent cross-contamination of the samples. 

5. Skim and Clean
Eliminate foam and grounds for a clear cup and prepare for cupping. 

6. Taste and Slurp
At around 8–10 minutes, slurp the coffee to spread it across your palate. 

7. Record and Compare
Take notes of the attributes and descriptors you find in the coffee. Use a cupping form to score and describe. 

Fragrance/Aroma: Dry and wet smell notes earthy, fruity, sweet, smoky, roasty, spicy
Flavor: The coffee’s main taste profile  sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami
Aftertaste: Lingering finish
Acidity: Brightness or liveliness 
Body: Mouthfeel or weight (drying/astringent, thickness, metallic, oily) 
Sweetness: Natural sugars present
Balance: How well all elements harmonize 
Clean Cup: Free of defects or odd flavors 
Uniformity: Consistency across multiple cups 
Overall: Personal impression and drinkability 

Cupping is more than a tasting ritual. It’s an act of respect. It connects the hands that harvest to the hearts that serve.

The next time you cup, take a moment to reflect on the journey of that bean from mountain to mug. That connection is what transforms a good cup into a great story of building community and deepens our appreciation of coffee. More than that, it’s a bridge linking farmers’ hands in distant fields to the cups we serve across the counter. As baristas, you are the final voice in that chain. When we cup with intention and heart, you give meaning to every sip. 

Next time you’re at the cupping table, remember: it’s not just coffee—it’s people, passion, and purpose in every cupping bowl. 

Dr. Jorge Ferrey is the Director of Sustainable Farming and Quality Assurance for BIGGBY COFFEE and One BIGG Island in Space. He would love to host a cupping session for any BIGGBY store or marketplace. To schedule a cupping, contact Dr. Ferrey at jferrey@biggby.com.