What happens at a coffee tasting?

If you’re thinking about adding a coffee machine to your office, one of the big questions is which coffee to choose. A tasting session is the easiest way to discover what your team will actually enjoy. They make it fun and collaborative as you can include your team in the decision-making process if you choose to.

Beans start to lose flavour as soon as they’re ground, so tasting beans straight from a machine gives the truest sense of what your team will drink every day. Your goal is simple: select coffees that appeal to everyone while staying within budget.

Why try a coffee tasting?

Coffee tastings are about exploration and experience. You’ll notice aromas, taste notes, and see which coffees your team prefers.
There are a few different qualities that can vary from bean to bean. So the tasting session will help you to find your favourite.
Key things to consider:

Flavour and aroma e.g. Chocolate, nutty or fruity.
Acidity
Sweetness and bitterness
Body e.g. Light, medium or full.

We have a quick guide to the different coffees offered at FreshGround as an example of the typical offerings.

What to do at a coffee tasting?

The main thing in a coffee tasting is to have fun. Take the time to try different coffees and consider what’s not just right for you, but what your team will think about it.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to bring a couple of colleagues with you. If that’s not possible, consider asking your team what they look for in a coffee.
You could even do a quick survey to better understand what your team wants.
Coffee tastings are often put on by coffee machine suppliers, who will usually have a recommended coffee that they will suggest you use. You can find out why using supplier recommended beans is important here.

Example: how FreshGround’s Ricco Fabio tastings work

Our Ricco Fabio tasting sessions show how a professional tasting can run in practice:

Session can take 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on what the customer wants
We come to you, so beans, equipment, everything provided. Just need a communal space, hot water, and a sink.
We give you a premium experience. Cups arranged, beans weighed, prep done to cupping standards.
Teams sample blends blind using tasting cards. Focus on colour, aroma, and flavour.
Everyone votes. The top blend becomes the office choice. With a bonus game, where correctly identifying all blends earns a prize.
Hybrid options including video call tastings allow remote colleagues to participate.

We also have a video explainer that breaks it down further, which you can find here.

Choosing coffee for your office

Selection isn’t just about taste. Consider the following:
Machine setup
Single vs dual hopper? Dual hoppers allow two types of coffee, blends, or decaf.
Quality vs cost
Premium beans taste better but cost more. Balance taste and budget.
Variety
Offer a small range to suit different preferences.
A tasting session makes these decisions simpler and ensures your team enjoys every cup.

Getting started

If you want to work with us, then book a tasting session to discover what your team loves. Showroom or in-office, you’ll leave with clarity on flavours and preferences.

Our contracts start from three months, giving flexibility to change or cancel. Taste, vote, and find your team’s favourite coffee.