What Makes a “Good” Cup of Coffee?

 Everyone has different preferences — so how do we set a standard?In the world of specialty coffee, flavor has always been the core value. But flavor is subjective — some love fruity acidity, others prefer bittersweet nutty notes. So how can we fairly evaluate which coffee is "better"?

Evaluation systems = a shared languageTo help coffee professionals worldwide communicate clearly and to give great coffee the value it deserves, coffee evaluation systems were created.

What did the traditional system look like?The most widely used method is the cupping form developed by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). It scores categories like acidity, sweetness, aroma, aftertaste, and overall impression. Only coffees scoring above 80 are classified as "specialty coffee."

But there are some problems:While the traditional system is objective and structured, it has a few blind spots:

✓ It focuses heavily on flavor but may not reflect market value

✓ It breaks down flavor into categories but fails to capture uniqueness

✓ It removes context like origin, culture, and story

What is CVA?CVA (Coffee Value Assessment) is a new evaluation system launched by SCA in 2023 and globally rolled out in 2024. It aims to replace the old cupping form with a more holistic approach to understanding a coffee’s value and character.

CVA evaluates coffee through four lenses:

1. Physical – Bean moisture, defects, size, and color

2. Descriptive – Objective recording of flavor attributes

3. Affective – Subjective appeal and market potential

4. Extrinsic – Origin, processing, certifications, and story

CVA isn’t just a scoring sheet — it’s a tool that helps connect the right coffee to the right market and the right people.

Like fried riceSome people love dry, smoky Cantonese-style fried rice; others prefer moist, savory Taiwanese-style. The old system gave each plate just a single score — it was hard to know who it was for. CVA, on the other hand, lists the ingredients, method, texture, and flavor, helping you find the plate that’s right for you.