Should You Slurp When Drinking Pour-Over Coffee? What Is Cupping Slurping and What Is Its Purpose?

Friends who frequent coffee shops or have participated in cupping sessions have likely heard the "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" sound, right? Those unfamiliar might think this sound, similar to slurping noodles in Japan, is a way to express that the food is delicious. But in fact, this is the sound produced by an action we take to better perceive the flavor of coffee, and this action has a specific name - "slurping."

What is "Slurping"?

Slurping is an action that quickly draws coffee liquid into the mouth and atomizes it. This action was initially primarily used in cupping sessions because it has two benefits that are perfectly suited for cupping! The first benefit, as mentioned at the beginning by FrontStreet Coffee, is that it allows for better perception of coffee flavors. To showcase the inherent taste of coffee beans, we need to reduce the impact of human techniques on extraction during the brewing process. Therefore, people invented "cupping." Coffee is extracted by using high water temperature, coarse grinding, and long steeping times.

Although cupping won't alter the coffee's taste due to human influence, its extraction efficiency isn't very high, so it doesn't taste as rich as pour-over coffee. Therefore, people need to amplify the flavors through slurping to better perceive the coffee's characteristics. By atomizing the coffee liquid through slurping, the surface area of the coffee increases with wider contact, allowing aromas to be more distinctly perceived by our taste buds. Simultaneously, the atomized coffee liquid releases more aromas, which are captured by our retronasal olfaction. Under the dual effect of smell and taste, we can receive more aromatic information.

The second point is temperature reduction! The extraction water temperature used in cupping is 94°C. Even after steeping for four minutes, the liquid remains at a high temperature above 70°C. As we all know, overly high coffee temperatures reduce our perception of taste! The expression of sour and bitter flavors is suppressed at high temperatures and only becomes more apparent after the temperature drops. Therefore, we need to use slurping to let air lower the coffee's temperature, thus more comprehensively experiencing the coffee's performance! As the slurping action became more widespread, more and more friends began using this method when drinking pour-over coffee. This naturally raises the question: is slurping necessary for pour-over coffee too?

Should You Use Slurping for Pour-Over Coffee?

Compared to cupping, pour-over brewing introduces the influence of human techniques, allowing coffee to exhibit more outstanding flavor characteristics! Additionally, the water temperature drops to a level acceptable to the tongue after brewing, so we don't need to use slurping to perceive distinct flavors.

However, even for distinct flavors, they can be difficult for beginners to perceive. Therefore, applying slurping in this case is also a good method. But to fully leverage the advantages of slurping, proper slurping technique is essential!

How to Use Slurping Correctly?

First, purse your lips into a thin line, then use a spoon or small cup to hold the coffee liquid and bring it to the edge of your lower lip. Slightly open your upper lip and sharply inhale air, drawing both air and coffee liquid into your mouth. Then, close your lips tightly and savor the coffee taste in your mouth. Simultaneously, exhale the gas remaining in your mouth through your nasal passages, carefully perceiving the flavors as these gases pass through your nasal cavity - this is proper scientific application of slurping!

However, we need to know that slurping produces loud noises. If you're in an environment with many people, it's best to use it cautiously. Otherwise, you'll become the most dazzling focal point in this crowd! For some socially anxious friends, this might not be a good thing~

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