# Cupping

/ˈkʌpɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈkʌpɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cupping
Updated: 2026-09-20

## Definition

a standard method that coffee experts use to smell and taste different coffees by mixing ground beans with hot water in small bowls to judge their quality and flavor

For teachers: the standardized professional practice of evaluating coffee quality and flavor profiles by steeping grounds in water, observing the aroma, and slurping the liquid to spray it across the palate.

## Examples

- We are going to a coffee cupping to learn how to taste different beans.
- The roastery hosts a public cupping every Saturday morning to help customers identify notes of chocolate or fruit in their blends.
- During the formal cupping, the Q-grader meticulously evaluated the acidity, body, and uniformity of the Rwandan samples to determine their specialty grade status.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.