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Love Coffee? A Guide to Becoming a Coffee Connoisseur
A coffee sommelier and how you become one
There’s more to coffee tasting than you might think. A sommelier is an expert in wine, and the title “coffee sommelier” has been popping up all over the place lately. As you might expect, coffee sommeliers know more about coffee than the average person.
There are many types of coffee, and even though most people drink their morning cup without thinking too much about it, there’s quite a bit that goes into creating different roasts and blends. Coffee sommeliers can identify the different types of beans by sight and smell alone — even if they’ve never seen them before!
If you’re a coffee lover, the idea of being a coffee sommelier might intrigue you, and there’s a market for such expertise. Let’s look at what a coffee sommelier is, how they’re trained, what their responsibilities are, and how you can become one.
What is a Coffee Sommelier?
A coffee sommelier is a professional coffee taster and expert on the nuances of one of the world’s most popular beverages, coffee. They’re responsible for evaluating the quality of your favorite cup of Joe, teaching you how to brew it at home, and encouraging you to try new blends and flavor profiles.
As a coffee sommelier, your role is to educate people about how their morning cups can be better than just “good enough.” You should be able to point out subtle differences in roast levels, explain the importance of origin or seasonal variation, taste notes from different varietals, and even suggest recipes that match up well with specific types of beans.
How to Become a Coffee Sommelier
To become a coffee sommelier, you need to be a coffee lover and expert. You should also be able to converse about the subject matter with others in a knowledgeable way. A coffee sommelier is not only an expert but also a professional coffee taster who understands the subtle nuances of flavor and aroma.
A coffee sommelier is also expected to navigate the increasingly complex landscape of coffee certifications, fair trade, and sustainability, which means you’ll need to learn about all those topics. Along with all…
