The Confidence to Enjoy Cupping Sessions

Journal article by Homeground Coffee Roasters - Specialty Coffee Roasters in Singapore

In many local Asian contexts, it's common for a coffee cupping event to be followed by an awkward silence, as participants tend to hold back from voicing questions or sharing thoughts (not a single one, in fact!).

This hesitation stems partly from a cultural emphasis on self-reliant problem-solving—preferring to seek answers independently before reaching out—and partly from a fear of expressing perspectives that might clash with the group’s consensus.

However, the reality is that there is no definitive right or wrong when it comes to coffee.  A coffee with specific flavour notes isn’t limited to those alone; its profile can shift dramatically based on variables like brewing techniques, water chemistry, or extraction methods. The extraction method and the mineral content of the brewing water can significantly impact the taste, meaning the same coffee beans can taste completely different from cup to cup.

In the case of baristas, who spend their careers mastering this craft of coffee, it may manifest in the form of confidence in one’s taste and preferences, and definition of what makes good coffees. However, it is understandable that homebrewers do not have that benefit of practice and exposure, and may sometimes lack confidence in affirming their preferences when it comes to the taste of a cup of coffee.

To this end, it should be said that while certain scientific facts (such as Extraction Yield and Total Dissolved Solids) are undeniable facts when it comes to a cup of coffee, one’s interpretation is wholly based on our preferences, and our likes and preferences cannot be wrong – they can only be different.

With that being said, having an opinion and asking people to respect that entails doing the same for others. Just as you have an opinion, the next person also has his opinions and preferences for which he may have built over experience and time, none of which are less valid than the other. At the end of the day, we know that every person speaks out of love and enthusiasm for coffee, and nothing more than that.

The key, therefore, to enjoying coffee, is to understand the fact of the matter that you are entitled to have an ****opinion, even if that may differ in viewpoints from others. In fact, contrary to popular belief, coffee people always welcome opinions – in some ways, it demonstrates your love and passion for the drink, and shows how much you care (enough to speak up!!).

So at the next coffee event that you may attend, speak up! Ask questions! Share knowledge! Grow that confidence to enjoy! And, continue to work together to elevate the coffee levels of the collective, so that everyone may continue to grow in our respective coffee journeys.

Read also --

Tags: