What is cupping and why is it worth taking part?
Cupping is a unique form of coffee tasting that allows you to fully appreciate its character — aroma, taste, body, balance. It's a ritual that connects the community around the bean and offers a chance to consciously discover the differences between flavor profiles.
Kawiarnia Relax on Wilcza – atmosphere and setting of the event
An iconic spot on the map of Warsaw, the cozy upper floor of Kawiarnia Relax became our temporary sensory lab. Thanks to the owner Michał's kindness, we had an intimate space, perfect for focusing on scents and flavors.
How the cupping went: meeting progression and tasting
Although traffic in Warsaw caused some delays, a group of enthusiasts ready for action was already waiting at the venue. The cupping was blind — participants had no information about the coffees. Only after a round of intensive testing did we reveal the cards with names and roasteries. The result? Surprise. Expected profiles turned out to be something completely different.
☕ What coffees were on the table?
On the cupping table, there were 14 coffees from 9 different roasteries, divided into three groups - classics, wild cards, and uniques. Among them were classic profiles, experimental fermentations, and competition coffees. Sylwia Rachwalska from @focusy_coffee was our guest with her coffee - a Colombian hit from Luz Helena Salazar. There were also roasteries from Romania, Sweden, England, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and one coffee roasted in Colombia at the plantation @fincaelparaisocoffee 🔥
There was no shortage of well-known and popular botanical varieties such as SL, Pink Bourbon, Caturra, Gesha, Castillo, Typica.
Which coffees garnered the most interest?
Among all the coffees tasted, three stood out:
Bombon, Picaflor Benitez, and Pink Bourbon Peach from Bermúdez.
Each was balanced, rich, and vibrant. The co-ferments were particularly surprising — complex yet harmonious. An example that modern approaches to fermentation can yield such tasty results.
Impressions and opinions of the cupping participants
Participants agreed: it was one of the most interesting tasting sessions. The diversity of coffees, their quality, and the way it was conducted truly surprised even experienced participants.
Summary and invitation to future CoffeeMates events
The cupping lasted about 1.5 hours — in a calm, supportive atmosphere. Thanks to such meetings, specialty coffee becomes more accessible, and conversations about it — more genuine.
We will host more such gatherings. Warsaw, see you at the next cuppings!
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