Flavor & Cupping
Balance
A cupping attribute assessing how well a coffee's flavor, acidity, body, and aftertaste complement each other as a harmonious whole. A balanced coffee has no single attribute that overwhelms or is noticeably absent.
En détail
Balance does not mean bland or middle-of-the-road — a coffee can be intensely acidic and still balanced if its sweetness and body provide proportional counterweight. Kenyan coffees are famously intense yet balanced, with high phosphoric acidity matched by heavy, juicy body. Scoring balance involves considering the overall impression of integration: does the cup feel complete and resolved, or does one dimension dominate awkwardly? Balance is scored on the standard 6-10 scale.