THE ART OF COFFEE TASTING

Want to learn how to evaluate and appreciate coffee like a pro? Try these three simple Coffee Tasting techniques.

Coffee Tasting is a vital part of making and appreciating exceptional coffee. It refers to the methodology we use to assess our hallmarks of coffee quality: crema, body, smoothness and aroma intensity.

Involving a precise sensory evaluation process that links taste and smell to aspects like variety, terroir and care in coffee cultivation, Nespresso’s experts can quickly uncover a coffee’s characteristics to evaluate if it meets our high standards. It is also a key step our master blenders take in crafting the aromatic compositions of your favourite Nespresso blends, ensuring specific aromas, flavours and body are achieved to perfection.

Coffee Tasting is both science and art, but you don’t need decades of experience to become a pro at distinguishing exceptional coffee.

If you want to learn how to better appreciate your cup of coffee, try our simple three-step Coffee Tasting guide.


Coffee Tasting is both science and art.

01

STUDY THE CREMA

Art of coffee tasting

Crema refers to the layer of foam that sits on the surface of your coffee, formed naturally during the coffee extraction process.

Have a look inside your cup – is the crema uniform and smooth? A key characteristic of quality crema takes the form of small and numerous bubbles that make a fine, dense and creamy layer. Bubbles that are large, few, and seem to disappear quickly indicate that the coffee has been brewed too quickly. If bubbles appear dense and thick, the coffee has probably been brewed too slowly and may be burned.

Study the crema

A signature feature of our Vertuo range is its innovative extraction technology, Centrifusion™. Cup after cup, generous and silky crema is formed perfectly on the surface of the coffee through precise blending of coffee grounds and water at high rotation speeds. At the touch of a button, the machine reads the barcode on each capsule and automatically optimises the perfect brewing parameters (infusion time, water, temperature). All you need to do is select the blend you want to enjoy.

Alternatively, those who love a classic espresso experience can indulge in an irresistibly creamy and dense crema with our Original line coffee machines. Intuitively designed with a 19 bar high-pressure extraction system, water temperature, extraction time and pressure are balanced to release fresh aromas from each capsule and achieve a beautiful crowning crema.

02

INHALE DEEPLY

Inhale Deeply

Next, give your cup of coffee a sniff – what aromas do you smell? Note the fragrances, then use your spoon to fold in the crema, slowly stirring it into the coffee. Folding breaks the layer of crema and pushes its oils into the body of the coffee, releasing precious aromatic bubbles and resulting in a more indulgent drink.

Take a second whiff. This time, breathe in deeply for a few seconds so that the aromatics reach your nasal cavity. As smell and taste are very closely interlinked, your first encounter of the coffee’s smells and aromatic sensations is what helps you gauge how pleasant it is, and enriches the sensory experience of coffee drinking.

03

EVALUATE THE TASTE

Evaluate the taste

Now for the fun part — take a big spoonful of coffee and really slurp it. Slurp strongly from the spoon to draw the coffee into your mouth – don’t be shy, you’re doing it right!

The act of slurping deeply helps pump aromatics into the back of your nose where it connects with your mouth, so you’ll also be smelling the coffee while tasting it. Pause for a moment to consider everything from the coffee’s texture and flavour to its acidity and aftertaste. Most importantly, take time to savour its exceptional flavour.

Now that you’ve got the basics of Coffee Tasting down, why not embark on your own journey with the different blends Nespresso has to offer across our Original and Vertuo range? Discover the coffee that best suits you today.

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