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description: training |
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## Cupping Notes: Learn to distinguish between coffee characteristics

**Cupping Notes: Fragrances, Acid, Body, Flavor and Finish**

As a follow up to our [cupping guide](https://www.espresso-services.com/espresso-blog/a-cupping-guide-for-new-staff-or-customers-and-maybe-even-yourself), here's a handy guide for distinguishing between coffee characteristics — which, for the novice cupper, can sometimes seem like five ways to say the same thing.

Here are a few more tips for advancing your cupping skills by sorting out dry grounds from wet, and distinguishing aspects of acidity, body, flavor and finish.

**Fragrance of dry coffee grounds**

Do they smell fresh? Stale? Over roasted? Under roasted? This is a great place to find out, before water is added to the mix.

**Examples:**

Sweet   Spicy

...

](https://www.espresso-services.com/espresso-blog/cupping-notes-learn-to-distinguish-between-coffee-characteristics)

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