We explain whether the choice of container really is of crucial importance in coffee tasting. Coffee is THE drink that sets the pace of the day for many people. Often criticized or misunderstood, coffee has benefits confirmed by science. Of course, frequency and quantity are two essential variables when we want to make consumption reasonable and truly beneficial for our body.
The methods of preparation are also important. The flavors will be different depending on the type of extraction chosen, but so will the level of caffeine. Everyone generally has their own preferences and habits. The type of bean and the roasting method should not be forgotten either.
A robusta Vietnamese is perfect for a delicious “Cà phê sữa đá”, a local version with sweetened condensed milk and ice cubes, made with a small metal filter. For a classic espresso, we will make a different choice.
Another factor that impacts coffee
In addition to all these parameters, the tasting of a coffee can be transformed by an element that is not given enough thought. However, we have all experienced a coffee in a plastic cup that is too soft or made of cardboard that is disintegrating.
When you drink coffee, you don’t necessarily ask for anything extra. Finding small pieces of paper in your mouth or unknowingly absorbing toxic chemical compounds is not something you want! Yet this is the case if you opt for certain cups or mugs.
Furthermore, these materials also have the unfortunate tendency to dissipate heat very quickly. The coffee cools down very quickly, adding to the disappointment. Studies have also looked at the relationship between the perception of taste and the container of a drink. There are said to be variations depending on the type of material used.
Ceramics for an ideal experience?
Ceramics are identified as a neutral and non-porous material. This means that the exchange of elements between the container and the contents is non-existent, or almost non-existent. Thus, a coffee poured into a ceramic cup will neither absorb any taste nor lose any because it is partially absorbed.
In addition, ceramic has a thermal inertia far superior to plastic or cardboard, and even glass. A coffee will be able to retain its heat for longer. This inevitably has an impact on the tasting experience since different aromatic profiles are expressed with the temperature of the cup.
It is also impossible not to take into account the sensory experience as a whole. In aesthetic terms, but also in tactile terms (in the hand and on the lips), a ceramic cup offers much greater pleasure than other types of container. The coffee will be all the better for it!
