About the Journal
I started this journal after picking up a bag of coffee whose name seemed familiar, but couldn’t remember whether I’d tried it before, or whether I’d liked it. There have definitely been coffees I’d happily return to, and others I would probably pass on again. Having somewhere to keep those impressions felt useful.
Each entry brings together a little about the coffee, where it comes from, and my experience brewing it. Sometimes that includes a tasting with friends, a bag someone brought back from a trip, or something I picked up from a local roaster.
What I Taste
I like seeing how the tasting notes on a bag line up with what I find in the cup. Sometimes a flavour feels immediately obvious. Other times, I get more of a general character, or notice something different altogether.
The same coffee can also open up differently as a pourover or a latte. I include how I brewed it to give those impressions some context. These are simply my observations as I try things and learn more about what I enjoy.
How I Rate Coffees
I keep the ratings simple. They reflect how much I enjoyed a coffee, with a few notes to explain what stood out.
Loved
Coffees that left a lasting impression. Something about the flavour or overall experience really worked for me, and I’d be happy to seek them out again.
Liked
Coffees I found pleasant and enjoyed drinking. I expect most coffees will fall into this category.
Not for me
Coffees that didn’t quite line up with my tastes. Maybe a particular note was a little too strong for me, or the roast leaned more traditional than I tend to enjoy. That doesn’t mean the coffee was bad, just that it wasn’t for me.
How I Use A.I.
I use A.I. quite a bit in my professional work, and I’m interested in how it can help me build something personal here. What I most want to share, though, is my own experience: the coffees friends bring over, the conversations around a tasting, and the flavours that surprise me.
A.I. helps me look up information about roasters and producers and put together drafts. The product images start with actual photos of each bag and are regenerated for a consistent look across the journal. Everything gets a human review and edit before publishing.
For me, the value of this journal comes from spending time with the coffees and the people I share them with. A.I. helps me put it together, while the tastes, curiosity, and experiences I bring to it make it my own.
Have a recommendation?
Let me know if there's an exceptional coffee or roaster I should try.