What happens at a coffee tasting?

Are you thinking about getting a coffee machine and improving your team’s experience at work? If so, read on, because one of the decisions you’ll make first is what coffee to try.

With so many types of beans and blends, get ready to be transported into a new world of coffee, discovering different flavours and aromas. 

The first benefit you’re going to get from having a bean to cup coffee machine is that you’ll get the freshest-tasting coffee. The longer coffee beans have been ground, the more flavour is lost. So grinding the beans right there and then, means you’ll get only the best and freshest cup of coffee. If you’re a facilities or office manager, part of your job is to keep everyone happy in the office.  Your aim will be to find the perfect selection of great tasting coffees so you have something for everyone.

Book your slot at our CoffeeCafe in Moorgate, London. Or email hello@freshground.co.uk to head to our Manchester CoffeeCafe.

How do I choose which coffee is right for me?

Of course, the taste will be one of your key factors in deciding which coffee to get for the office. But there are also lots of other considerations including price, quality and variety. For example, some machines have just one hopper and others have dual hoppers meaning you can have two different types of coffee. Opting for a dual hopper, you’re giving your team a choice so you could have two different beans, create blends or offer a decaf version. 

And naturally, your choice of coffee will depend on what budget you have to work with. The quality of your coffee will be reflected in the cost. So like anything, if you choose a premium coffee, you’ll get a better quality, better-tasting coffee but you’ll be paying more. 

Discover More: The Complete Coffee Glossary (A-Z)

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. 

Your coffee-tasting session is likely to be put on by whatever coffee machine supplier you choose. Our team at FreshGround encourage our potential customers to join us at our London showroom for what we call a ‘Discovery’ session. In our showroom, we have a great range of office coffee machines to try out and you can taste all of our coffees. 

We’ve developed a really handy colour-coded strength guide for our range of coffee. The guide goes from light, floral flavours, to deeper chocolate and nutty, all the way up to more intense and smoky flavours. 

Discover More: The complete FreshGround coffee bean range

What should I look for in a coffee-tasting session?

If you’re heading to a coffee tasting, it should be relaxed and simply focus on the coffees you and your team will enjoy. There are some key things to look for – these include the obvious elements such as flavour, aroma, etc. Also, there may be other factors such as the noise, simplicity for the user and a machine that’s easy to maintain. 

We’ll explain more about what to explore in your session…

Flavour and aroma – when tasting coffee, think about what the flavours and aroma remind you of. Are you picking up notes of chocolate, a smoky aroma or berries for example?

Acidity – do you notice the acidity when you’re drinking the coffee? Acidity isn’t a bad thing but it comes down to personal preference. If you’re looking for a coffee that will be widely enjoyed, you’re probably best to choose a lower acidity option.

Sweetness and bitterness – these are two other aspects to consider when coffee tasting. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing coffee, you’re best to stick to a coffee that’s balanced and not too sweet or bitter.

Body – often referred to as mouth-feel, body is how the coffee feels on the palate. Does it feel heavy and full or light and smooth? 

Aftertaste – exactly as the name suggests, what does the coffee taste like after you’ve finished drinking? Does it end fast or does it linger and last a long time?

How do I choose my office coffee?

During a ‘Discovery’ session, you should be walking away with a good understanding of the coffees you enjoy. These sessions are best done in showrooms that are equipped with all the office coffee machines. However, our team will often go to offices as well. We’ll bring a coffee machine so you can try a whole range of coffee. This often allows more of the office team to get involved which can be helpful in the selection process. We can also carry out tastings on video calls. Many of us may have experienced this hybrid approach to trialling and exploring new products. This option can be a great choice particularly if one of the team is WFH or can’t travel.

Discover More: Bean to cup coffee machines for your office

FreshGround can help

Initially, we tend to recommend trying out a few different bean blends for the office. There’s nothing better than when the team is super-enthused with the taste of the coffee! Also, our contracts start from 3 months giving you plenty of leeway to change or cancel your plan.

You can find out more about our coffee contracts in this blog. Plus, you can view our full range of coffee online, or give us a call to book a Discovery session or book your session online and give your team the office coffee experience they deserve.