Cupping is as close to a sacred act as we get in the world of coffee evaluation. It is a ubiquitous ritual that comes with its own language, implements, and is considered by many to be THE way that we can determine what a coffee has to offer. But what if cupping is not the end all be all we assume it to be? What if certain aspects of cupping are not to be worried about so much allowing us to explore other, dare we say, better ways to to evaluate a coffee?
In this episode of RoR from Roast Magazine we get to see how recent scientific discoveries have shown us we can stop worrying and start tasting on a new level through an article called "Why We Can Stop Worrying About ExtractionYield in Cupping" w/ the author and coffee legend, Charlie Habegger!
Charlie is a coffee buyer with field experience in over 20 producing countries. He has built sourcing and quality systems with Intelligentsia, Handsome Coffee Roasters, and Blue Bottle. He has been a U.S. Barista Championship finalist and a subject of the documentary film "Barista" (2015). He has volunteered with the Coffee Quality Institute leading local Q-grader teams in Myanmar and the Philippines. Charlie is now proudly with Royal Coffee in the Bay Area, where he has the fun title of "Sourcing Curator and Placement Specialist", a project-based position of sourcing and marketing. Before Royal, Charlie was a legal cannabis buyer in California's Emeral Triangle, an experience that renewed his love for California and specialty agriculture of all kinds. He thinks constantly about the vast distances many of us never get to cross as consumers.
In our conversation we cover:
- Pivotal cupping experiences
- The language of Correct vs incorrect
- Is cupping the ultimate way to explore potential?
- The epiphany in the Philippines
- Cultural context and objectivity
- Study that addresses extraction yield in cupping
- Introducing other methods
- Timing when you taste coffee and where cupping fits
- Deciding on definition and what is important before tasting
- The role of history and relationship in cupping
- Advice for new businesses developing preferences and systems
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