Posted on Thu, 17 Nov 2011
Cupping Or Latte Art Classes Anyone?
Here’s another novel gift that you could dish out this Christmas or just make it a perfect excuse to take fellow coffee lovers out for an evening of great smells, tastes and scintillating conversation. I am talking about the Cupping and Latte Art Workshops that Caffe HABITU have just started here in Hong Kong.
Held at it’s new Coffee Academy and Roasting Studio in Leighton Road, Causeway Bay (near Lee Garden 2), the Cupping Class is all about appreciation and is essentially an educational journey through the history of coffee, particularly where its grown, how to appreciate and describe the differences in aroma, body, acidity, flavour and after tastes particularly between Asian vs Columbian vs African roasts. It finishes with a hands-on Latte Art session where you learn some tricks and trades from a certified Barista.
Simply Fab had the company of Carol Wong, Caffe Habitu’s Barista Trainer herself at our evening session which incidentally not the best time to sign up to one of these. The highlight of my evening was learning how to ‘slurp’ my coffee in order to taste it and also to differentiate between an Earthy (Sumatran Coffee) vs a Fruity (Kopi Luwak) vs a Floral (Latin American or Costa Rican) flavour . Much like wine, I am resigned – a coffee peasant – I live on very simple Descart-ian principles ie. “I like, I drink!”
It turns out I have a thing for Asian coffee.. I like mine Non Acidic, Rich and Fruity but not bitter, a medium body with a light and lingering after-taste on the palette - which perfectly describes the much coveted Kopi Luwak that I got to taste. A first time for me, this was a rare chance to taste the fabled Luwak flavour which I found out costs up to US$600 per pound. Coffee connoisseurs amongst us already know how the Luwak is made and for those who don’t let’s just say a simple google search on wikipedia will get you gagging that what you are drinking is largely refined cat poo which because of its scarcity and the process being so labour intensive warrants a handsome ransome which lets just say is worth more than the civet cat’s weight in gold.
So, if you are game for an afternoon of great coffee and to learn a few more things that you did not know about coffee then we strongly recommend a Cupping Class – HK$388 per person for groups of 2 or more.
If you want other classes then there are also classes at the Academy that teach you how to make The Perfect Brew, do your own Latte Art, learn how to speak ‘coffee’ intelligently in the Coffee Connoisseurs class or just take part in a Coffee & Art Jamming Session. Prices, details and bookings at www.caffehabitu.com
