Coffee tasting isn’t just for experts. It’s for anyone with a cup and a little curiosity. The real difference between drinking and tasting is simply paying attention. That shift turns a daily habit into a moment of discovery.
At Moulin Blanc Café, this isn’t a special event. It’s how we work. Our aim is straightforward: to understand the story in your cup, to honor the coffee’s journey, and to be fully present.
Here’s a look at how we taste, and how you can bring the same simple focus home.
The Heart of Tasting Coffee
When we taste coffee, what the trade calls cupping, we focus on four simple things:
1. The Smell (Aroma)
2. The Brightness (Acidity)
3. The Feel (Body)
4. The Aftertaste (Finish)
Research shows that smell shapes more than half of what we perceive as flavor. If you skip the sniff, you miss most of the experience.
That’s why, at Moulin Blanc Café, the tasting begins long before the first sip.
The Four-Step Tasting Method
Step 1: Breathe It In
Freshly brewed coffee releases a world of scent. Taking a moment to smell it prepares your senses and sharpens your focus.
Ask yourself:What does the aroma remind you of?
• Is it warm and nutty, like toasted almonds or dark chocolate?
• Is it bright and fruity, like berries or citrus blossom?
• Is it deep and sweet, like caramel or toasted bread?
A hollow or dull smell often leads to a similar taste. We use this first impression to guide everything that follows.
Step 2: Slurp, Don’t Sip
Take a small, quick slurp. Let it spread across your tongue. This pulls in air, carrying the flavors to every part of your palate.
You’re not drinking for volume. You’re feeling for texture and balance.
• Is it smooth and rounded, or thin and watery?
• A sharp, unpleasant bitterness often points to over-brewing or tired beans.
We practice this daily when fine-tuning our espresso and brewed coffee.
Step 3: Look for Brightness, Not Sourness
Good acidity is often misunderstood. In a well-crafted cup, it should feel vibrant and clean the coffee’s liveliness.
Think of:
• The crisp tang of a green apple.
• The refreshing zip of a lemon wedge.
• The gentle sharpness of a dry white wine.
We listen for clarity. Each note should be distinct, not muddy. Mixed-up flavors imply something has gone wrong way before coffee was poured into your cup.
Step 4: Notice What Stays Behind
The true test of quality happens after you swallow. The aftertaste is final and narrates the last story.
Pay attention to what remains:
• Does the flavor fade gently, or vanish sharply?
• Does your mouth feel dry, or softly sweet?
• Are you left curious, wanting just one more sip?
A great coffee leaves a pleasant memory. We look for that lingering curiosity in every bean we source.
The First Step Is to Notice
You don’t need special gear or expert vocabulary. You only need your attention, a bit of patience, and a willingness to notice.
The story is all there in the aroma, the texture, the balance, and the finish.
Your next cup can be more than a pick-me-up. It can be a small experience, shaped by the same quiet attention we practice daily. Coffee truly tastes better when you take the time to taste it.
And at Moulin Blanc Café, that simple idea is at the heart of every cup we serve.