A lot of people move through specialty coffee without ever forming a clear point of view. They can tell you which cafés are popular, what looks good on the counter, and what others tend to order. What’s missing is a sense of their own preference. Lighter or heavier. More or less bitter. Something that disappears quickly or something that lingers after the sip.
That only comes from experience, and most people never give themselves the chance to build it.
So that’s what this piece is for. We’re going to do that.
I live in Dubai, so I’ll use cafés here. Use the same approach in the city you live in. The names will change. The process won’t.
Before you start
Take a pen and a notebook. Write things down.
You don’t need much. A few words per stop. But writing it forces you to slow down and register what just happened.
The method
You’re going to visit four cafés.
At each one:
- order one specific drink
- take a few sips over a few minutes
- ask yourself the same five questions
- make one simple decision
- write down short answers
Each stop builds on the last one. You’re not collecting experiences. You’re comparing them.
The five questions to use every time
Use these at every café. Don’t change them.
- Does this hit straight away or build slowly?
- Is there bitterness? If yes, how much?
- Does it feel light or heavy?
- Does it remind me of anything I already know?
- How long does it stay after I swallow?
After that, ask one more thing:
Would I order this again? Yes, no, or not sure.
Stop 1: set your reference
You want somewhere established and consistent. You’re not looking for novelty. You need a clean starting point.
What to order
Flat white.
What to do
Take a sip. Wait. Take another. Repeat.
Write it down
Answer the five questions:
- Does this hit straight away or build slowly?
- Is there bitterness? If yes, how much?
- Does it feel light or heavy?
- Does it remind me of anything I already know?
- How long does it stay after I swallow?
Then decide:
Would I order this again?
Write a short summary as well.
This is your baseline.
Stop 2: move away from it
Subko Coffee Roasters & Bakehouse
You want something that behaves differently from your first drink. A clear contrast.
What to order
Ask your barista: “What would you recommend if I want to try something different from a flat white?”
Then order that. Ideally a pour over.
What to do
Take a sip. Pause. Take another. Let it sit for a moment before you swallow.
Write it down
Go through the same five questions:
- Does this hit straight away or build slowly?
- Is there bitterness? If yes, how much?
- Does it feel light or heavy?
- Does it remind me of anything I already know?
- How long does it stay after I swallow?
Then decide:
Would I order this again?
Write a short summary.
Now compare it to Stop 1.
Stop 3: concentrate everything
You want to experience coffee in a concentrated form. Espresso gives you that immediately.
What to order
Espresso.
What to do
Take a small sip. Pause. Take another. Let it sit on your tongue.
Write it down
Answer the five questions:
- Does this hit straight away or build slowly?
- Is there bitterness? If yes, how much?
- Does it feel light or heavy?
- Does it remind me of anything I already know?
- How long does it stay after I swallow?
Then decide:
Would I order this again?
Write a short summary.
Now compare it to Stop 2.
Stop 4: slow it down
Why this café
You want a place where brewing is controlled and precise. This is where smaller differences become easier to notice.
What to order
Pour over.
What to do
Take a sip. Put it down. Come back to it after a minute. Then again before you leave.
Write it down
Use the same five questions:
- Does this hit straight away or build slowly?
- Is there bitterness? If yes, how much?
- Does it feel light or heavy?
- Does it remind me of anything I already know?
- How long does it stay after I swallow?
Then decide:
Would I order this again?
Write a short summary. You may notice it changes between the first and last sip.
Now compare it to Stop 3.
How it comes together
You’ve had four drinks.
- a flat white to anchor your understanding
- something that moved away from that
- an espresso that concentrated everything
- a final cup that showed more detail
More importantly, you’ve answered the same five questions four times. And you’ve made the same decision four times.
That’s what makes this work.
What you’ll notice at the end
When you look back at your notes, you’re not just reading descriptions. You’re looking at decisions.
Each stop gave you:
- five answers about what the coffee was like
- one answer about whether you’d order it again
That’s enough to see patterns.
You might notice:
- drinks that felt light → “yes”
- drinks that felt heavy → “no”
- noticeable bitterness → “no”
- longer finishes → “yes”
Or something completely different.
The point is, the pattern comes from what you’ve already decided, not from guessing.
You’ve answered the question “what do I like?” four times without trying to.
FAQ
Do I need to know anything about coffee before starting?
No. The process works without any prior knowledge.
What if I don’t understand what I’m tasting?
That’s fine. Just answer the five questions as best as you can.
Can I swap the cafés for others in my city?
Yes. Follow the same structure when choosing them.
How long should each visit take?
10 to 15 minutes is enough if you don’t rush.
What if I prefer the first coffee and don’t like the others?
That’s useful. It tells you what you prefer.
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