Palate is an amazingly complex topic. You may find that your preferences shift (or drift) over time. Cupping some 20+ coffees a week I tend to experience different phases in terms of what are my favorites. Nothing stays a favorite for too long and the more different coffees you drink, the harder it becomes to play favorites. Sometimes, it's a combination of what my mind (memory reference data, calibration, etc.) remembers, what my heart wants it to be and then what is actually happening. This can be confusing. I've cupped coffees (espresso style), put them aside for a week or two, then picked them back up and enjoy the coffee with a completely different view and opinion. Yes, this is part bean development, but it can also be affected by what's happening to your palate at that time - palate exhaustion or just plain tainted. As an example - Sumatrans can really divide opinions. Sometimes they are right on the money, other times their funkiness can be off-putting. There is something to respect in a clean, bright cup from a CentAm - it may lack distinctive character or wild notes, but it can be pure and true to a classic flavor formula. Equally, it can be just as rewarding to enjoy a left field African with intense winey syrupy essence or a wild grown PNG from the "side of the road in Mt Hagan".
