3 Lessons Learned Tasting Coffee With 10,000 People

These are the main things I learned from the World's Largest Coffee Tasting, but share your own learnings!

Music:
"Too Tired" by Smartface

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[michaelschultz]

Listening to James talking about coffee is its own kind of ASMR.

[MrHarlequin]

What did I learn?:

I learned that trying to follow someone who is WAY more accomplished in the preparation for a cupping whilst watching and listening to what they’re saying requires a degree of multi-tasking ability I lack.

I learned that I lack the experience to described what I am tasting and that not being able to find the words is REALLY frustrating

I learned (confirmed) that I am in that minority who finds naturally processed coffees really enjoyable and interesting. I also learned that I think this is the case because my palette is - not yet perhaps - discerning enough to identify more subtle tastes in washed coffees. Or maybe I just like fermentation.

I learned that comparison is indeed key and that what you’re tasting in one coffee is only visible when compared a different one.

I learned that cupping coffee is quite possibly addictive and I want to do it again!

I learned about Robusta and that it’s not nice. I also learned that, having thought about it some more, that may be a rush judgement and want to try some more, as perhaps it has its place. Particularly for that first cup.

Most of all, I learned that James has completed my journey to coffee geek-hood (geekdom?) but that I am not alone and that perhaps I need to consider myself as part of an elite, rather than the potentially discriminated-against minority I feel when I start talking about coffee to friends and family.

When is the next one? 😁

[gauna]

I just noticed that we really need some videos about coffee processing. like what does natural/washed mean exactly, what characteristic flavors do those processes result in? are they typical for certain regions? is it more expensive to do one or the other? and so on...

[fareedjacob]

Dear James, Thanks for being Awesome & Fantastic.

[nickm]

I learned that for people who drink coffee everyday but might not dig beneath the surface of it (like my parents on the other side of the country),
gifting them a tasting kit and doing it at the same time... was one of the most bonding powerful experiences I've had with them.
especially during covid.. it was spiritual to be able to it with the many people accross the globe.. it felt like the early days of the internet were back for just a brief moment.

[segamble]

Loved loved LOVED being a part of this. I ordered 9 kits to Western Canada and hosted two different cupping parties where we watched the video and partook of the tasting. One session had multiple very knowledgeable coffee people in it, where I was humbled by their knowledge. The other session I found myself in the place of guide to some uninitiated coffee lovers. Both were delightful! Everyone learned so much, and were fascinated by the process of comparing the different coffees and breaking down what they liked or didn’t like about particular coffees. Thank you thank you thank you for doing this, and I sincerely hope this is an annual thing in some capacity.

[raghavchaudhary]

The event was the single most fun coffee hour I had this year. Thank You to James and Team Square Mile for all the hard work. Also would really be interested to see the project that comes through from the massive fundraising, proud to be a small part of this whole process.

[quijames]

My partner said in response to "what did you learn": "A lot of people would enjoy eating from the bin (this is her experience of the natural-process coffee)". PS, we really enjoyed the coffee tasting!

[thisamericanwifepod]

I love the print and tops, but sadly I've already blown this month's coffee budget as someone (yes, you) recently made a video that convinced me it was time to upgrade my grinder! Thanks for all the hard work you're putting in with regular videos at this time, they're very much appreciated!

[Robinzorz]

Doing this coffee tasting was one of the most enjoyable moments of my coffee journey yet. It was great. I learned so many things. That is, I read about all the information before, but experiencing it made me really learn it - understand it, experience it, love it. I knew the difference between natural and washed, and tasted both before - but tasting it in this way, next to each other, made me really appreciate and understand the difference. Indeed, even as I just poored the water onto the natural (refisa), I instantly loved the smell, while my wife hated it when the smell reached her nose.

[chrisshawnthomas]

Thanks for running this tasting James. I experienced after it was done being live with a friend. We enjoyed being able to pause and take our time that way. I learned that I really like washed Catuai style coffee from South America over others. I had it before but didn’t connect that region and style of bean vs other coffees until I did the tasting and really liked that one the best.

[apeacebone]

I felt so special and so privileged to be a part of it!! I learned way more than I can cover in a youtube comment, honestly, but: yes, the comparative tasting method was super helpful, particularly how you used it to identify and explain differences in flavor profiles that I really didn't understand before (citrus fruit vs jammy vs tropical, for instance, which I picked up on fairly easily when it comes to wine, for instance, but I had no reference point for them in coffee until now). And before, I had no idea *why* all that cheap airplane/gas station/hotel coffee always has That taste.

Thank you so much for putting this together. It was a rare moment of feeling connected to other people and feeling like a part of something, not to mention just being a wonderful sensory experience. Thank you for making the tasting kits so affordable, too.

[austinbrady]

The coffee tasting was such an all around incredible experience for me and I was so happy to be a part of it. A big thank you to James and his team for making this happen.

[kwilj]

I learned that if nothing better happens in 2020 that's ok - I had a lot of fun tasting through coffees with my wife and 10, 000 internet friends! Thanks again James and BIG THANKS to the Square Mile team.

[KeithCarmichaelInFL]

This was just a great thing, thank you so much for being amazing!

[CoffeeReviews]

Still regret not ordering it in time. Have done so many cuppings and tastings in my life but this one would have been more unique and fun. I'm not too surprised by the results, but I feel like a lot of people eventually develop a taste for all different kinds of coffees when they really get into it.

Amazing work James 👏

[dannisantiago]

Learned that this is easily done alone, or with friends & that we can easily show more people why coffee is excitingly more appreciated in this time!

[JeffJacquesmd]

Most fun Ive had with coffee these past 9 months.
Looking forward to the next tasting.

[carlosbornes]

I would love to see the same coffee in a light and a dark roast as you mention comparative tasting is king and that is a great way to show people new to the hobby the difference that the roasting level has on the final taste

[theindecisiveshooter]

I very much like this topic with coffee because it can go along with not just coffee but whiskey, wine, etc... Especially the "COMPARITIVE" Part of the conversation. It's a good way to show people what you like and get them to find something they like. Give them a baseline and go from there. It's an awesome way of doing things like this.