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Sunday, February 18, 2007
Cupping coffee clubs
Cupping coffee is one of the things I enjoy most. To cup is divine. In truth, it could be Tea or anything in the cup and if the flavor is there I would be happy.
Cupping is traditionally something you do when evaluating coffees in a professional capacity. Many of the best barista I know spend extra time and money cupping outside of work to build a better palate and understanding.
When I sit down for a cupping, it's largely a group of friends getting together to evaluate a coffee and enjoy it. That's not the norm but I think more people should consider this type of event. A coffee club if you will.
I think Ben originally called our group the Saturday Afternoon Coffee Club but that was a long time ago. A lot of faces came and went. In the end, we tightened up and had a small group of us who were really serious and no nonsense.
It doesn't need to be serious though and it can just be fun.
Photo courtesy of Gabe Rodriguez
Coffee can be fun but you have to distance yourself from the personal nature of the business. Inviting someone who works at a company to bring their own coffee to cup is not a good idea. If the invites don't keep an open mind, you can end up with someone who simply critiques everything but their own products.
When I was in Guatemala though, I got a big reminder of the joy of cupping.
Edwin fetched us all personal cupping spoons, looney toons and the likes. it was a statement made unintentional. We were not the rock stars or the big egos, just the coffee people. No silver spoon, just ready to try something new.
Some of the joy gets sucked out of coffee when people become unwilling to see other perspectives. A lesson I took away from the trip is appreciation for others and their views. The flip side is that it left me with a bit to chew against the myopic and narrow minded people in the business.
All that aside, cupping an amazing coffee with a group of friends is great fun. We will be looking to get together with some of our local buddies and tap some old friends soon. It's time to start doing something and culture a bigger community.
Ideas or participants welcome...
Photo courtesy of Gabe Rodriguez
Cupping coffee is one of the things I enjoy most. To cup is divine. In truth, it could be Tea or anything in the cup and if the flavor is there I would be happy.
Cupping is traditionally something you do when evaluating coffees in a professional capacity. Many of the best barista I know spend extra time and money cupping outside of work to build a better palate and understanding.
When I sit down for a cupping, it's largely a group of friends getting together to evaluate a coffee and enjoy it. That's not the norm but I think more people should consider this type of event. A coffee club if you will.
I think Ben originally called our group the Saturday Afternoon Coffee Club but that was a long time ago. A lot of faces came and went. In the end, we tightened up and had a small group of us who were really serious and no nonsense.
It doesn't need to be serious though and it can just be fun.
Photo courtesy of Gabe Rodriguez
Coffee can be fun but you have to distance yourself from the personal nature of the business. Inviting someone who works at a company to bring their own coffee to cup is not a good idea. If the invites don't keep an open mind, you can end up with someone who simply critiques everything but their own products.
When I was in Guatemala though, I got a big reminder of the joy of cupping.
Edwin fetched us all personal cupping spoons, looney toons and the likes. it was a statement made unintentional. We were not the rock stars or the big egos, just the coffee people. No silver spoon, just ready to try something new.
Some of the joy gets sucked out of coffee when people become unwilling to see other perspectives. A lesson I took away from the trip is appreciation for others and their views. The flip side is that it left me with a bit to chew against the myopic and narrow minded people in the business.
All that aside, cupping an amazing coffee with a group of friends is great fun. We will be looking to get together with some of our local buddies and tap some old friends soon. It's time to start doing something and culture a bigger community.
Ideas or participants welcome...
Photo courtesy of Gabe Rodriguez
Labels: article, coffee, cupping
¶ Jaime van Schyndel 11:02 PM
Comments:
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When you cup the Pacific Northwest, Look me up!! There will definately be some cupping in April if you can make the trek to Bellingham.
everyone knows you havvve to use a silver plated spoon when you cup. It is a well know fact that silver reacts with coffee to make burnt flavors go away. ;)
You know Gabe, I am seriously considering it. Getting together again would be awesome.
Yo Silas, what are you talking about burnt, that's flava in da cuppa :p
Yo Silas, what are you talking about burnt, that's flava in da cuppa :p
I've tried to get something like this going here in Lubbock. I really have. Unfortunately, people just aren't interested. It's a depressing reminder of the region in which I reside.
OK!
Cupping events-
So I am pondering seting up a few cupping events... ala Dniel Humphries and the long forgotten SACC.
I will be trolling for cafe(s) that would like to host or would allow us to play and for locals who want to attend.
I guarantee no problem with hosting one small event at simon's but I need to contact some old friends at other shops and see if there is interest.
Simon is auditioning new coffees so I think it will be an easy fit for him to do and especialy since he's closing early during the snowy times....
Cupping events-
So I am pondering seting up a few cupping events... ala Dniel Humphries and the long forgotten SACC.
I will be trolling for cafe(s) that would like to host or would allow us to play and for locals who want to attend.
I guarantee no problem with hosting one small event at simon's but I need to contact some old friends at other shops and see if there is interest.
Simon is auditioning new coffees so I think it will be an easy fit for him to do and especialy since he's closing early during the snowy times....
the next texas coffee get together will be more like a cupping event than a jam. (i'd call it a cup off, but the ring of that sounds like i might attract the wrong crowd.)
triangulations. cupping for defects and intensity of defects. roast variation cuppings. the like. it will be like a cupping marathon in which any cupper(s) can "win" and which will--hopefully--spur some great knowledge building and discussion. anyone done this well?
triangulations. cupping for defects and intensity of defects. roast variation cuppings. the like. it will be like a cupping marathon in which any cupper(s) can "win" and which will--hopefully--spur some great knowledge building and discussion. anyone done this well?
Must talk to sorting monkeys about that...
a defects cupping.
I was thinking of a good ole pot luck event.
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a defects cupping.
I was thinking of a good ole pot luck event.
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