Assuming you have fairly large hands you can merely grip the mug near the top with the tips of your thumb and fore- and middlefinger, with the ringfinger draped around the handle so that you know where it is and don't bop yourself in the nose with it, and drink from the mug that way. Women must always use the handle, and putting two fingers through the hole is allowed. Coffee tasting Coffee tasting terminology ranges from easily understandable to highly technical, and some of the more esoteric terms may be a little difficult to decipher. This short vocabulary list explains some basic phrases that will help increase your understanding of fine coffees. The basics Flavor, acidity, and body are the three fundamental tasting terms.
Flavor is the total impression of aroma, acidity and body.
Acidity is the sharp, lively quality of all high-grown coffees. Acid is not the same as bitter or sour, and has nothing to do with objective pH factors. Acidity is the brisk, snappy quality which makes coffee refreshing and palatecleansing. Body is the tactile impression of the weight of the brewed beverage in the mouth. It may range from watery and thin, through light, medium and full, to buttery or even syrupy in the case of some Indonesian varieties.