Becoming a Coffee Connoisseur: Beginner's Guide to Coffee Cupping with 787 Coffee
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Have you ever wondered how coffee professionals identify those incredible notes of chocolate, citrus, or even berries in their brews? The secret lies in coffee cupping, a fascinating and accessible method to truly taste and understand coffee.
Here at 787 Coffee, we believe everyone deserves to experience the full spectrum of coffee flavors. That's why we've put together this simplified, easy to use , step-by-step guide for beginner cuppers, perfect for exploring three distinct coffee beans.
Get ready to transform your coffee experience and discover why 787 Coffee offers some of the best coffee in NYC, Puerto Rico, New Jersey and Texas - The best coffee beans for sale in our coffee shops, our coffee farm in Puerto Rico or ONline.
What You'll Need for Your First Coffee Cupping Session:
Don't worry about fancy equipment; most of these items you might already have!
Your Chosen Coffee Beans (3 samples/origins): Select three different single-origin coffee beans from 787 Coffee or other local coffee shops.
This will allow you to easily distinguish flavor profiles. For an unparalleled experience, choose our Supremo, Puerto Rico, a Mexican - single origin or a Colombian single origin coffee - all available on our website.
Coffee Grinder: A burr grinder is ideal for a consistent, coarse grind, crucial for accurate cupping.
Scale: Precision is key! A digital kitchen scale will help you measure your coffee accurately.
Timer: Your phone timer works perfectly.
Cupping Bowls (or small, wide-mouthed bowls): Aim for bowls with a capacity of 160-200ml. You'll need 3 bowls per coffee type, so nine in total for three different beans.
Rinse Cups: Three cups filled with hot water for rinsing your spoons.
Cupping Spoons: Any large / soup / Cupping spoon will do
Hot Water Kettle: An electric kettle is convenient for heating water to the precise temperature.
Vessel for Used Grounds: A small bin or bowl to collect spent coffee grounds and foam.
Mug or Glass: To hold your clean cupping spoons.
Your Step-by-Step 787 Coffee Cupping Journey:
This guide will help you focus on the nuances of each bean, setting you on the path to your caffeinated journey of becoming a coffee enthusiast.
Step 1: Grind Your Beans (The Aromatic Beginning)
Prime the Grinder: For each new coffee, grind about 2 grams and discard them. This removes any lingering flavors from the previous bean, ensuring a pure taste for your cupping.
Measure and Grind: Measure out 27 grams of each 787 Coffee bean or other local coffee you that has single origin, specialty coffee. Grind each coffee separately to a coarse consistency, similar to sea salt. Repeat for all three coffee varieties, keeping them separate and clearly labeled in their designated cupping bowls.
Step 2: Prepare Your Bowls and Unleash the Fragrance
Divide and Conquer: Place 9 grams of each ground coffee into three separate cupping bowls. This gives you a backup sample and allows for better assessment.
The First Sniff – Fragrance: Before adding water, take a moment to deeply inhale the dry grounds. What do you smell? Notes of chocolate, nuts, fruit? Jot down your initial impressions for each coffee. - This is called Fragrance - Use the 787 Coffee: Home Cupping Sheet - This is where your tasting journey truly begins!
Step 3: Heat and Pour (The Bloom)
Perfect Temperature: Heat your water to 200°F (93°C). This is the optimal temperature to extract the diverse flavors from your 787 Coffee beans.
The Pour and the Timer: Start your timer and carefully pour 150 grams of hot water into each cupping bowl, ensuring all grounds are saturated.
Step 4: The Aroma (A Deeper Dive)
Second Sniff – Wet Aroma: After pouring, allow the coffee to sit for a moment. Then, gently lean in and smell the wet grounds. Do new aromas emerge? How do they differ from the dry aroma? Record your observations in the 787 Coffee: Home Cupping Sheet. This phase often reveals more subtle aromatic compounds.
Step 5: Breaking the Crust (The Big Reveal)
The 4-Minute Mark: At precisely 4 minutes on your timer, it's time to "break the crust." Using a cupping spoon, gently push the coffee grounds that have formed a crust on the surface to the back of the bowl. - repeat the motion 3 times.
Clean Spoons, Clean Flavors: After breaking the crust in each bowl, remember to rinse your spoon thoroughly in the hot water rinse cup before moving to the next. This prevents cross-contamination and ensures you taste each coffee's true profile.
Remove Grounds and Foam: Using two spoons, carefully skim off any remaining grounds and foam from the surface and discard them into your waste vessel. This leaves a clean surface for tasting. - do this twice.
Step 6: Cool and Taste (The Grand Finale!)
The Waiting Game: Patience is a virtue in coffee cupping! Allow the coffee to cool for at least 13-15 minutes. As the coffee cools, different flavors will emerge and evolve, offering a richer tasting experience.
The Slurp – Your New Superpower: Now for the fun part! Take a spoonful of coffee and slurp it loudly. This aerates the coffee, spreading it across your entire palate and allowing your taste buds to fully perceive the flavors.
Note Every Nuance: As you taste each coffee, pay attention to:
Flavor: What specific notes do you detect? Citrus, chocolate, caramel, nuts, spices, fruit?
Acidity: Is it bright and lively, or more subdued?
Body: Does it feel light, creamy, or heavy in your mouth?
Aftertaste: What flavors linger after you swallow?
Overall Balance: How do all the components work together?
Rinse and Repeat: After tasting each coffee, rinse your cupping spoon in the hot water rinse cup to ensure no flavors carry over to the next sample.
Step 7: Compare and Reflect
This is where the magic happens! Compare your notes for each of the three 787 Coffee beans. Which one did you prefer and why? Did you notice differences in body, acidity, or flavor notes? Coffee cupping is an incredible way to expand your palate and deepen your appreciation for the complex world of coffee.
5 lb Single Origin Coffee Beans — Puerto Rico Supremo, Mexico, or Colombia
The Big Bag is 5 lb of single origin specialty coffee from one place, never blended, roasted to order and shipped free. Choose Puerto Rico Supremo grown on our own farm, or single origin Mexico or Colombia, in whole bean or ground. It's the same coffee we serve in our 34 cafés across New York, New Jersey, Texas, Puerto Rico, Mexico City, and Miami, in a bag built for people who make a lot of coffee.
Why buy a 5 lb bag of coffee
A 5 lb bag makes about 150 to 200 cups. That's a month or more for most households and two to three weeks for an office of ten. Buying coffee in bulk means a better price per pound than 12 oz bags, fewer boxes at your door, and no more running out on a Wednesday morning. Every Big Bag ships free and comes in a resealable zipper bag with a one-way valve, so the beans stay fresh from the first cup to the last.
If you brew for an office, a restaurant, a church, a studio, a fire station, or a house full of coffee drinkers, this is the bag.
Three single origins. You pick.
Single origin means every bean in the bag comes from one farm or one growing region, with full traceability. No blending, no mystery beans. Choose your origin at checkout:
Puerto Rico Supremo — Our flagship. Grown at 3,000 feet on Hacienda Iluminada, our own farm in Maricao, Puerto Rico, and honey-processed for natural sweetness. Smooth medium roast with notes of dark chocolate, buttery caramel, citrus, and honey. Naturally low in acidity, the way Puerto Rican coffee is known for. $38 per pound.
Mexico — Single origin Mexican coffee we source directly from [region] and roast in small batches. [Roast level] with notes of [tasting notes]. A smooth, balanced daily cup that works in any brewer. $__ per pound.
Colombia — Single origin Colombian coffee from [region]. [Roast level] with notes of [tasting notes]. Full-bodied and dependable, the classic choice for offices and drip brewers. $__ per pound.
Why 787 Coffee is different
Less than 1% of coffee shops in the world own a farm. We do. Our Puerto Rican coffee is not imported. We grow it, harvest it, process it, roast it, and serve it ourselves, which is what farm-to-cup means at 787 Coffee. That's the quality that earned us #3 Best Coffee Shop in New York City and #32 in North America on the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026.
Roasted to order. Every bag is roasted in small batches after you order and ships within days. You get a roast date, not a best-by date, and you'll never receive coffee that sat in a warehouse.
Specialty grade. Our coffee is specialty-grade Arabica, the top tier of coffee sold anywhere in the world.
Sustainably sourced. Every bag supports coffee-growing communities in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Colombia.
When you buy this bag, you plant a coffee tree. Every 5 lb bag funds one new tree at Hacienda Iluminada in Maricao, so your morning coffee is growing the next harvest.
Whole bean or ground
Whole bean stays freshest if you have a grinder. If you don't, we grind to order for your brewer:
Drip — medium grind for automatic drip coffee makers, airpots, and commercial brewers
Espresso — fine grind for espresso machines
French press — coarse grind for French press and cold brew
Not sure? Choose whole bean. It keeps longer, and any grinder will do.
Made for offices, cafés, and big households
The Big Bag is our most popular size for workplaces. Set up a subscription and it arrives on your schedule at 7% off every delivery, with no contract, and you can pause or cancel anytime. Cafés and restaurants ordering regularly can apply for wholesale pricing on our wholesale page.
It also makes a serious gift for the coffee drinker who has everything.
How to store 5 lb of coffee
Keep it in the resealable bag with the zipper closed, away from heat, light, and moisture. Don't refrigerate or freeze it. Coffee is at its best within a month of the roast date, which is why we roast to order instead of stocking shelves.
Specifications
Size: 5 lb (80 oz / 2.27 kg)
Type: 100% single origin specialty-grade Arabica
Origins: Puerto Rico (Hacienda Iluminada, Maricao), Mexico, Colombia
Roast: Medium (Puerto Rico Supremo); [Mexico]; [Colombia]
Process: Honey-processed (Puerto Rico Supremo)
Grind: Whole bean, drip, espresso, or French press
Packaging: Resealable zipper bag with one-way valve
Shipping: Free, roasted to order
Subscription: Save 7% on every delivery
Frequently asked questions
How many cups of coffee does a 5 lb bag make?
About 150 to 200 cups, depending on how strong you brew. At 2 tablespoons per cup, most households get 4 to 6 weeks. An office of 10 goes through it in 2 to 3 weeks.
Is this a blend?
No. Every Big Bag is 100% single origin. You choose one origin and that's the only coffee in the bag.
What is the best coffee to buy online in bulk?
Coffee that's roasted to order by the people who grow it. The Big Bag is grown on our own farm in Puerto Rico, roasted after you order, and shipped within days, which is what makes fresh coffee taste fresh.
What does Puerto Rican coffee taste like?
Smooth, full-bodied, and low in acidity, with notes of dark chocolate, caramel, honey, and subtle citrus. Puerto Rico Supremo is honey-processed, meaning the sweet fruit mucilage stays on the bean while it dries in the sun, so the sugars go into the coffee.
Which origin should I choose?
Puerto Rico Supremo for our signature farm-grown coffee. Mexico and Colombia are smooth, dependable daily drinkers that work well for offices and larger groups.
Is 787 Coffee specialty coffee?
Yes. Our coffee is specialty-grade Arabica, and 787 Coffee is ranked #3 in New York City on the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026.
How much is it per pound?
Puerto Rico Supremo is $38 per pound. Mexico is $__ and Colombia is $__. Every 5 lb bag ships free.
Is a 5 lb bag good for an office?
Yes. It's our most popular size for offices, cafés, and restaurants. Subscribe and it arrives on a schedule at 7% off.
Whole bean or ground?
Whole bean if you have a grinder. Otherwise choose the grind for your brewer: drip, espresso, or French press.
Do you ship fresh?
Yes. Every bag is roasted to order and ships within days of roasting.
Can I subscribe?
Yes. Subscriptions save 7% on every delivery, and you can pause or cancel anytime.
What happens when I buy this bag?
You plant a tree. Every 5 lb bag funds one new coffee tree at Hacienda Iluminada, our farm in Maricao, Puerto Rico.
Do you offer wholesale?
Yes. Cafés and restaurants can apply on our wholesale page.
787 Coffee A From Farm to Cup Coffee Experience .
Elevate Your Coffee Journey with 787 Coffee
Congratulations, you've just completed your first coffee cupping session! This experience will undoubtedly enhance your daily coffee ritual. Whether you're looking for the best coffee shop in NYC for your next brew or searching for premium coffee bag sales to enjoy at home, 787 Coffee is your destination. Our passion for farm-to-cup excellence ensures every sip is an adventure.
Ready to explore more incredible coffee? Visit our website www.787coffee.com or stop by one of our coffee shop locations to discover our full range of specialty coffee, single origin, only hand-picked and sustaineble coffees. Freshly roasted coffee beans!
Let’s Simplify…
☕ 787 Coffee Guide: Coffee Cupping at Home
Transform your coffee experience and discover why 787 Coffee offers some of the best coffee in NYC, Puerto Rico, New Jersey and Texas
What You'll Need for Your First Coffee Cupping Session
3 Coffee Samples
Select three different single-origin coffee beans from 787 Coffee. Choose our Supremo, Puerto Rico, Mexican, or Colombian single origin coffee for an unparalleled experience
Digital Scale
Precision is key! A digital kitchen scale will help you measure your coffee accurately
Coffee Grinder
A burr grinder is ideal for a consistent, coarse grind, crucial for accurate cupping
Timer
Your phone timer works perfectly for precise timing during the cupping process
Cupping Bowls
9 bowls total (3 per coffee type) with 160-200ml capacity. Small, wide-mouthed bowls work best
Cupping Spoons
Any large soup or cupping spoon will do for the professional slurping technique
Rinse Cups
Three cups filled with hot water for rinsing your spoons between tastings
Hot Water Kettle
An electric kettle is convenient for heating water to the precise 200°F (93°C) temperature
Waste Vessel
A small bin or bowl to collect spent coffee grounds and foam during the process
Your Step-by-Step 787 Coffee Cupping Journey
Grind Your Beans (The Aromatic Beginning)
Prime the Grinder: For each new coffee, grind about 2 grams and discard them. This removes any lingering flavors from the previous bean, ensuring a pure taste for your cupping.
Measure and Grind: Measure out 27 grams of each 787 Coffee bean or other single origin, specialty coffee. Grind each coffee separately to a coarse consistency, similar to sea salt. Repeat for all three coffee varieties, keeping them separate and clearly labeled in their designated cupping bowls.
Prepare Your Bowls and Assess the Fragrance
Divide and Conquer: Place 9 grams of each ground coffee into three separate cupping bowls. This gives you a backup sample and allows for better assessment.
The First Sniff - Fragrance: Before adding water, take a moment to deeply inhale the grounds. What do you smell? Notes of chocolate, nuts, fruit? Jot down your initial impressions for each coffee. This is called Fragrance - Use the 787 Coffee: Home Cupping Sheet. This is where your tasting journey truly begins!
Heat and Pour (The Bloom)
Perfect Temperature: Heat your water to 200°F (93°C). This is the optimal temperature to extract the diverse flavors from your 787 Coffee beans.
The Pour and the Timer: Start your timer and carefully pour 150 grams of hot water into each cupping bowl, ensuring all grounds are saturated.
The Wet Aroma (A Deeper Dive)
Second Sniff - Wet Aroma: After pouring, allow the coffee to sit for a moment. Then, gently lean in and smell the wet grounds. Do new aromas emerge? How do they differ from the fragrance? Record your observations in the 787 Coffee: Home Cupping Sheet. This phase often reveals more subtle aromatic compounds.
⏱️ The 4-Minute Mark
At precisely 4 minutes on your timer, it's time to "break the crust"!
Breaking the Crust (The Big Reveal)
Break the Crust: Using a cupping spoon, gently push the coffee grounds that have formed a crust on the surface to the back of the bowl - repeat the motion 3 times.
Clean Spoons, Clean Flavors: After breaking the crust in each bowl, remember to rinse your spoon thoroughly in the hot water rinse cup before moving to the next. This prevents cross-contamination and ensures you taste each coffee's true profile.
Remove Grounds and Foam: Using two spoons, carefully skim off any remaining grounds and foam from the surface and discard them into your waste vessel. This leaves a clean surface for tasting - do this twice.
Cool and Taste (The Grand Finale!)
The Waiting Game: Patience is a virtue in coffee cupping! Allow the coffee to cool for at least 13-15 minutes. As the coffee cools, different flavors will emerge and evolve, offering a richer tasting experience.
The Slurp - Your New Superpower: Now for the fun part! Take a spoonful of coffee and slurp it loudly. This aerates the coffee, spreading it across your entire palate and allowing your taste buds to fully perceive the flavors.
Rinse and Repeat: After tasting each coffee, rinse your cupping spoon in the hot water rinse cup to ensure no flavors carry over to the next sample.
📝 Note Every Nuance - What to Evaluate
Flavor
What specific notes do you detect? Citrus, chocolate, caramel, nuts, spices, fruit?
Acidity
Is it bright and lively, or more subdued? Notice the tartness and vibrancy
Body
Does it feel light, creamy, or heavy in your mouth? Consider the mouthfeel
Aftertaste
What flavors linger after you swallow? How long do they persist?
Overall Balance
How do all the components work together? Is it harmonious?
Compare and Reflect
This is where the magic happens! Compare your notes for each of the three 787 Coffee beans. Which one did you prefer and why? Did you notice differences in body, acidity, or flavor notes? Coffee cupping is an incredible way to expand your palate and deepen your appreciation for the complex world of coffee.
🌟 Elevate Your Coffee Journey with 787 Coffee
Congratulations, you've just completed your first coffee cupping session! This experience will undoubtedly enhance your daily coffee ritual. Whether you're looking for the best coffee shop in NYC for your next brew or searching for premium coffee bag sales to enjoy at home, 787 Coffee is your destination.
Visit www.787coffee.com ☕