Comments on: Your intro to a cupping at 15th Ave Coffee: Starbucks Arabian Mocha Sanani http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/ An unofficial Starbucks blog and fan site for any and all Starbucks enthusiasts everywhere Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:04:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Melody http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-8496 Melody Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:46:08 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-8496 @Pam and @HeidiHo - More on cuppings. Cupping are the industry standard for a company that roasts coffee (and if they're not cupping, you should worry) so it must be that there are cuppings everywhere, but they're easy to find in Seattle. The other local roaster with public cuppings that I couldn't think of before is<strong> Cafe Vita</strong>. They have cuppings (so I've heard) on Fridays at 10 am in their main capital hill location (1005 East Pike). You're right Heidi that <strong>Victrola </strong>has public cuppings too: Their website says Wednesdays at 11 am, but it's not clear to me which of their locations that is at. And of course, <strong>Stumptown </strong>is known for their daily cuppings at 3 pm at their 12th Avenue location on Capital Hill. 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea (featured in this blog) has daily cuppings at 11 am. I know I've said this before, but I genuinely think it is a great idea to go to more than one roaster's cuppings to compare and contrast how they roast their beans. I've wanted to go to the Cafe Vita cuppings because I think they have a number of fine coffees, but it's in the middle of a business day. I would assume that there are more public cuppings in Seattle than what I've mentioned above. @Pam and @HeidiHo – More on cuppings. Cupping are the industry standard for a company that roasts coffee (and if they’re not cupping, you should worry) so it must be that there are cuppings everywhere, but they’re easy to find in Seattle.

The other local roaster with public cuppings that I couldn’t think of before is Cafe Vita. They have cuppings (so I’ve heard) on Fridays at 10 am in their main capital hill location (1005 East Pike).

You’re right Heidi that Victrola has public cuppings too: Their website says Wednesdays at 11 am, but it’s not clear to me which of their locations that is at.

And of course, Stumptown is known for their daily cuppings at 3 pm at their 12th Avenue location on Capital Hill.

15th Avenue Coffee and Tea (featured in this blog) has daily cuppings at 11 am.

I know I’ve said this before, but I genuinely think it is a great idea to go to more than one roaster’s cuppings to compare and contrast how they roast their beans. I’ve wanted to go to the Cafe Vita cuppings because I think they have a number of fine coffees, but it’s in the middle of a business day. I would assume that there are more public cuppings in Seattle than what I’ve mentioned above.

]]> By: Pam http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-8491 Pam Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:39:42 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-8491 Cuppings sound neat. Do they only do that up in the Seattle area? I've never heard about this taking place in my neck of the woods. Cuppings sound neat. Do they only do that up in the Seattle area? I’ve never heard about this taking place in my neck of the woods.

]]> By: Steven http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-1855 Steven Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:03:24 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-1855 From the pictures this seems like it is almost a french press. Normally in a french press we are supposed to mix the "crust" back into the water and let the press steep for 4 minutes. I really wish all stores were able to do this cupping method. I have never done it myself but I have seen it in pictures in Starbucks' training materials. This looks like a great experience to have because it involves the customer more than a Barista making a french press. To answer a couple questions: the standard ratio is 2 tablespoons of coffee to 6 oz water. About the Turkish coffee, it is a little bit different than other methods. I just saw a special on Modern Marvels about coffee and demonstrated Turkish coffee being made (as well as a little bit about the cupping that happens at Starbucks with Dub Hay). Basically a small pot has extremely finely ground coffee added with sugar. The small handled pot is brought slowly to a boil, taken off the heat for a short time then boiled again, and the process is repeated for a total of 3 times boiled. There is a good article about it on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_coffee Here is the segment from Modern Marvels w/ Turkish coffee I couldn't find the whole episode anywhere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM6wzic1M9s From the pictures this seems like it is almost a french press. Normally in a french press we are supposed to mix the “crust” back into the water and let the press steep for 4 minutes. I really wish all stores were able to do this cupping method. I have never done it myself but I have seen it in pictures in Starbucks’ training materials. This looks like a great experience to have because it involves the customer more than a Barista making a french press.
To answer a couple questions: the standard ratio is 2 tablespoons of coffee to 6 oz water. About the Turkish coffee, it is a little bit different than other methods. I just saw a special on Modern Marvels about coffee and demonstrated Turkish coffee being made (as well as a little bit about the cupping that happens at Starbucks with Dub Hay). Basically a small pot has extremely finely ground coffee added with sugar. The small handled pot is brought slowly to a boil, taken off the heat for a short time then boiled again, and the process is repeated for a total of 3 times boiled. There is a good article about it on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_coffee
Here is the segment from Modern Marvels w/ Turkish coffee I couldn’t find the whole episode anywhere:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM6wzic1M9s

]]> By: Melody http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-1033 Melody Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:55:51 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-1033 I met a barista today ('Ryan') who was still in the very early stages of her coffee education, but seemed really interested in knowing more. She wanted to know 'what's a cupping?' because I mentioned it, and she hadn't experienced a cupping before. Ryan, if you do visit this site, please check out this blog entry! I realize it's a long shot that she will see this, but she seemed to have a genuine enthusiasm to learn more about coffee... I met a barista today (‘Ryan’) who was still in the very early stages of her coffee education, but seemed really interested in knowing more. She wanted to know ‘what’s a cupping?’ because I mentioned it, and she hadn’t experienced a cupping before.
Ryan, if you do visit this site, please check out this blog entry! I realize it’s a long shot that she will see this, but she seemed to have a genuine enthusiasm to learn more about coffee…

]]> By: Nathan http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-878 Nathan Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:54:50 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-878 I always loved Sanani when it was offered as a core coffee in Canada too! I'd always brew it at home. Too bad it's gone. I always loved Sanani when it was offered as a core coffee in Canada too! I’d always brew it at home. Too bad it’s gone.

]]> By: Alexandra http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-833 Alexandra Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:03:42 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-833 Great post, Melody! Love the pics, too! Great post, Melody! Love the pics, too!

]]> By: james http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-832 james Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:32:08 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-832 Melody thanks for the very interesting post on cupping. Very informative. I also finally learned the difference between the non-branded stores and everything else - thank you! I hope you have a pleasant holiday season and a Happy New Year. Best, James Melody thanks for the very interesting post on cupping. Very informative. I also finally learned the difference between the non-branded stores and everything else – thank you!
I hope you have a pleasant holiday season and a Happy New Year.
Best,
James

]]> By: Melody http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-826 Melody Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:24:14 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-826 Cam that is great to hear you did a cupping. Crust breaking is a fine art too! Where did U get the hot water? Thank you for sharing about your cupping here! Cam that is great to hear you did a cupping. Crust breaking is a fine art too! Where did U get the hot water? Thank you for sharing about your cupping here!

]]> By: camspi http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-813 camspi Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:20:06 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-813 We had our cupping... but I think I ground it too fine. And my crust cracking skills need some help. It would also probably be helpful to have some way to keep hot water in a kettle to pour it in there. It made these huge, odd bubbles. We had our cupping… but I think I ground it too fine. And my crust cracking skills need some help. It would also probably be helpful to have some way to keep hot water in a kettle to pour it in there. It made these huge, odd bubbles.

]]> By: Kat aka Darkkatpouncing http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/20/your-intro-to-a-coffee-cupping-at-15th-ave-coffee/comment-page-1/#comment-811 Kat aka Darkkatpouncing Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:14:41 +0000 http://www.starbucksmelody.com/?p=936#comment-811 VERY educational!!! I should have been keeping up much better with your posts!!! This is exactly what I was wanting to learn about :) THANK YOU VERY educational!!! I should have been keeping up much better with your posts!!! This is exactly what I was wanting to learn about :) THANK YOU

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