Before I began working in coffee I had a deep passion for Tea. When I would taste tea I lacked to vocabulary to objectively taste the delicate flavour elements within the tea, so I often ran to subjective descriptions. Stories that were brought forward in my memory banks, or visions that were formed from the liveliness of the beverage. These seemed to be great descriptors. When communicating with customers they grasped where I was going, and more importantly my passion.
As I tasted more and my vocabulary grew I began to draw away from subjective descriptors and move more towards objective descriptors, ie. Texture, Flavour Characteristics, Mouthfeel, Body ect. All too often now when I am approached to describe a coffee or tea I go directly to those objective traits that I have filed away for quick access when asked, but it is then often followed with a look of confusion and the phrase, “Well I dont want ‘flavoured coffee’…”.
To me there are three stages of tasting.
1. Initial Encounter: The initial flavour as it is exposed to your tongue. Tactile, ferocious, and aggressive the flavour heed themselves in an disorderly fashion across your pallet. Leaving resemblance of the fun flavour we may have come to love and expect. Our breath is held and we hope for the best.
2. Intimate Encounter: The experience that takes place as we swallow. When we swallow and begin breath again in a fashion that which resembles the breaths right after a great kiss, short, quick, and sporadic. The flavour becomes enhanced and alive, showing an entirely new face. The subtle perfumes and fragrances become alive and it is as if you were invited into it’s home.
3. Infinite Encounter: After we swallow and take time to reflect the flavours and aromas excite our memory and emotions, bringing to life something that no one else will ever experience. This is the portion of the tasting that is personal and enlightening. Something that you can cling to as your own. This is your story. No matter how obscure it may be it breeds life and excitement into your eyes, which other will grasp and search for making their own story.
Now I am aware that in most cases we should still try to explain things in a manor that is undeniably sound and true I have come back to a belief that subjective tasting notes do have a place on their own. It is one of the only ways we as humans can show and express our love and passion for what we do/drink. Often it is hard to explain to people why I love coffee, but when I tell them how a Natural Panama from Elida Estate opens my mind and makes me feel like I’m drinking strawberry lemonade on a warm summer afternoon, they seem to understand just a bit more.
Thursday, March 25th, 2010, 11:03 am | 
Coffee | 
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