What does "cupping" refer to in the coffee world?

Cupping refers to the practice of tasting coffee to evaluate its flavors and aromas. This process is essential for coffee professionals, buyers, and enthusiasts as it helps to assess the quality and characteristics of different coffee beans. During a cupping session, various coffees are brewed in a specific manner, allowing tasters to smell and taste them in a controlled environment. This method helps in identifying various qualities such as acidity, body, and flavor notes, which are crucial for understanding the coffee’s profile and making informed decisions about sourcing and roasting.

The other options highlight different aspects of coffee processing and preparation but do not relate to cupping. Roasting is about transforming green coffee beans into the roasted form used for brewing. Brewing involves making coffee using water and ground beans, while grinding pertains to preparing the beans for extraction. Each of these processes is important in the overall coffee journey, but cupping specifically focuses on flavor evaluation, making it unique in its purpose and methodology.