Sound
The secret sound of espresso
Can you listen to coffee, can you appraise its sound as you can its aromas or its smooth mouthfeel?
Logic would say no, you can’t, and it is hard to imagine an assessment grid for the sound of coffee.
But if tasting is an art, and intuition, subjectivity and personal memory all play a part, then the four senses involved bring in the fifth one too.
Your sensorial experience is enriched by the bar noises, by the tinkling of the china cups and saucers, by the soft breath which accompanies the inhaling of aromas and the retronasal test, and finally by the tasters’ comments. These sounds are imprinted on your memory, to recall a moment and special sensations.