Had a customer tell me my Ethiopian Yirgacheffe tasted like 'dirty socks' last week

I mean I get it, light roasts can be acidic and weird if you're used to dark French press stuff. But she said it with such confidence, like she knew something I didn't. I've been roasting that same bean from the same Importer in Portland for about 2 years now. It got me thinking, maybe I'm too used to the funk and I've lost touch with what normal coffee drinkers actually want. Has anyone else had a customer totally call out your taste and make you doubt your whole setup?

2 comments

2 Comments

wendy_jackson7d ago

Maybe she's tasting last week's brew off the rinse cycle...

eric_murray266d ago

How long have you been brewing that specific batch before serving it? I'm just wondering if maybe you let it rest too long or not long enough after roasting. I've had Ethiopian naturals that tasted completely different on day 5 vs day 10 after roast, like one was legit fruity and the other went straight to feet. Did you cup it blind recently against something basic like a Colombian or a Brazil? Could be worth seeing if your palate is actually drifting or if she just hates bright coffees lol.