One conversation with a retired roaster changed my whole take on tasting notes

I was at a cupping in Portland last month and this older guy who used to roast for a shop in Seattle told me he ignores all the fancy flavor descriptions on bags. He said he just asks if the coffee tastes like it was grown with care, and that stuck with me because I've spent like $80 on beans chasing blueberry notes that never showed up. Now I'm wondering if half the tasting notes we see are just marketing fluff anyway. Has anyone else stopped paying attention to those and just gone on gut feel?

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oliver_morgan19d ago

So did he actually say how he tells if a coffee was grown with care, or was it more of a vibe thing? I get what he means, but I still want some clue before I drop money on a bag. Like, is there a specific smell or taste he looks for that says "someone actually gave a damn"?