First Observation Set

Your First Cup — What to Notice

You do not need special training to observe a cup. You need attention and time. This page gives you a simple framework for your first observation session.

What You Will Need

— The release you ordered
— A clean cup, no additives
— 10 to 15 minutes
— Somewhere quiet to sit

The Three Stages

Hot Phase — First 2 to 3 minutes after brewing
Take your first sip while the cup is still hot. Notice: is the aroma strong or quiet? Does the cup feel dense or light? Is there a distinct moment of sweetness or structure?

Warm Phase — 4 to 8 minutes after brewing
As the cup cools, notice what changes. Does the sweetness increase or decrease? Does the aroma shift or hold? Does the cup feel more or less complex than the hot phase?

Cool Phase — 10 minutes and beyond
At lower temperatures, notice how the cup has settled. Is the profile consistent with the hot phase, or has it moved into something different? Does the sweetness feel integrated?

What to Do With Your Observations

You do not need to write anything down. But if you want to, note one thing you noticed at each stage. Over time, your observations will become more precise.

If your observations align with the phenomena tags on the product page, you are reading the cup the same way the research does.

Observation path

  • Begin on Day 4

    Day 1-3 is the off-gassing period. The documented cup behavior appears more clearly after the first rest window.

  • Watch temperature stages

    Notice what is present while hot, what integrates as warm, and what remains after cooling.

  • Return to the language

    Use phenomena terms after tasting. They should name an observation, not replace it.