Candice Madison Gives a Lesson on Palate Development

This episode takes us on an enlightening discussion on taste, smell, and how we can better develop our palates for tasting. Supertaster Candice Madison helps us understand the hows and whys of taste and how we can all benefit from exploring different tastes and smells.

Candice Madison has worked in specialty coffee for almost 15 years, as an accomplished barista, roaster, green buyer, and instructor. They are a Q Arabica Instructor for the Coffee Quality Institute which awards the highest sensory certification in the professional coffee industry. They are also an experienced Authorized Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Trainer, teaching on SCA-certified campuses, as well as at the annual SCA Event, World of Coffee, and Coffee Roasters Guild Retreat. A past World Coffee Events Head Judge, Candice began work on their own project, Kandake Boutique Coffees, which expects to launch in the winter of 2022. 

Previously a member of several SCA committees, including the Equity Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, Candice is the outgoing Vice President of the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity (CCRE). They continue to partner and consult with multi-national corporations, and smaller companies, all the way through to home enthusiasts. This approach, they believe, democratizes the coffee industry, ensuring that all consumers feel welcome, seen, and heard, enjoying all coffee has to offer. 

A published writer, Candice embraces a range of topics concerning technical aspects of specialty coffee itself and the industry in general. Their work has been featured in a range of national and international publications. In addition, they have also been the subject of interviews, podcasts, and book contributions. But their core mission is not to advance themselves but to engage and collaborate with those who look to ensure quality in specialty coffee throughout the supply chain. Most important to Candice’s work is that they ultimately support sustainable livelihoods for farmers, producers, and all of those along the supply chain, recognizing the invaluable role that women and people of color play. Their vocation is the unceasing quest for the highest quality of coffee and the constant, sustainable improvement in the quality of the lives of those who produce it.