mycuppa wrote:
Folks, I would'nt get too excited about these descriptors...
In the end the only thing that matters (to me) is what's in the cup although as J has already stated it helps if you know what you are ordering in the first instance! But even then, you need to cup each origin to see which is the one you want for your particular purposes. As an example, an interesting one is coffee from Brasil. Largest producer, coffee from all over, but except for a regional descriptor, basically the same grading specs (the most common being say "2/3, 17/18, SS, EP") From looking at the "spec" you may think you are getting an "equivalent" coffee to the one you bought last time. The reality is.....afraid not, do the cupping. Also of course as has already been mentioned in these pages one way or another, one roasters poision is another roasters nirvana. That is what makes the world go around. Do the cupping on top of ordering the sample from the spec. Also different countries use different systems for their specs. One country may use the HG, HB SHG, SHB type system, others will use grades 1,2,3, others will use A,B,C, others use names.......whatever........