Sensory: Foundation

Learn to taste with intention

Tasting coffee well is a skill, and like any skill, it can be trained. This course builds your palate from the ground up. You'll cup coffee using a standard protocol and leave with the vocabulary to describe what you're tasting with confidence.

What You'll Learn

• Sensory physiology. How we perceive aroma and taste.
• The flavor wheel. Building vocabulary and sensory memory.
• Cupping protocol. The standard cupping routine, step by step.
• Attribute identification. Acidity, body, and sweetness, and how processing and roast level shape them.

Course Format

Duration: 1 day, 8 hours
Prerequisite: General Coffee Knowledge
Certificate: Certificate of completion, counts toward your Foundation Certificate

The Foundation Certificate is Good Cup Academy's entry-level credential. Complete all five Beginner-tier courses, General Coffee Knowledge, Barista, Brewing, Roasting, and Sensory, and it's yours.

Who Should Attend

Enthusiasts and professionals calibrating their palate, hobbyists building their tasting skills, and QC-adjacent wholesale staff who've completed General Coffee Knowledge.

What to Bring

Required: Open mind and curiosity, comfortable clothing you don't mind getting coffee-stained

Provided by Good Cup Academy: All cupping equipment, coffee samples, and training materials