11-11 Coffee tastes like wine?

Coffee tasting?

I know a lot of people who love coffee, and I know a lot of people who love wine. I also know a lot of people who love coffee and wine, though usually not in the same sitting. I don't think any of those people would compare tasting coffee to tasting wine, even those who really appreciate both. I think most coffee lovers are really coffee addicts who want good coffee, but then again maybe most wine lovers are really wine addicts who want good wine. I always hope to provide proof that you can know a lot about wine without being a wine addict, but I know I'm not the majority!

Anyway, coffee tasting is actually something for professionals, just like wine. According to Wikipedia, the practice of coffee tasting is called cupping and is done much like wine tasting: "A standard coffee cupping procedure involves deeply sniffing the coffee, then loudly slurping the coffee so it spreads to the back of the tongue." Sound familiar? So does the description of what one is measuring: Aroma, Taste, and Mouthfeel; and the words used to describe those things, respectively: earthy, fruity, floral; acidity, bitterness, sweetness; and body (for more go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_cupping). They even use a comparison commonly used in wine for mouthfeel of different types of milk, skim milk being like light-bodied coffee, and whole milk being like full-bodied coffee.

I was introduced to this notion of coffee tasting the other day when I was buying some grounds at Peet's. When I told the young, slightly awkward, but very energetic guy behind the counter that I needed to buy a half pound of ground coffee, he put on his Master Cupper's hat and began a deep interrogation about what exactly I liked in my coffee and what I wanted to get out of the beans I bought today. In my head I was just thinking "caffeine...that's it", but when he started describing coffees from different regions as having certain characteristics, I was hooked. I wanted to make sure I bought the perfect bag. I ended up buying the Christmas Blend for its medium body and fruity characteristics with a hint of spice, but I left wanting to buy at least one from each region he described. Who knew that Costa Rican coffee was fuller bodied and nutty with citrus flavor (Marsanne), Ethiopian coffee could taste like blueberries (Petit Syrah) and Sumatra was a full-bodied, low-acid, and sweet coffee (Zinfandel). So if you enjoy knowing what characteristics you like in wine, pay a little extra attention to your next cup of coffee, and next time your buying coffee, think "do I want cabernet? or something a little less acidic?".

I was so overwhelmed with my experience, I completely overlooked the fact that he sold me a pound instead of a half. I guess knowledge of your product really does make you a good salesperson!

For more on how to be a coffee cupper:
http://www.coffeecuppers.com/Tasting-Primer.htm
And for more on the different regions: http://www.coffeecuppers.com/CoffeeTastingGlossary.htm