I don't know about you guys, but, perhaps, my favorite coffee aroma is when press my nose close to my espresso cup, just after drinking the shot. Often, I experience a really rich tobacco like aroma. Like a really good pipe tobacco (I used to smoke many years ago).

Today I made a shot from a too lightly roasted (for my taste) Costa Rican coffee I home roasted - Costa Rica de Naranjo Herbazu - and the aroma of the cup was reminiscent of Sandalwood incense. Wonderful smell - that I liked better than actually drinking the shot.

Howard

You may be on to something. Over and over again, the owner of Daterra would have me smell the cup after the shot was gone.

Ahhh, memories.

I do it all the time to when I'm in a cafe. Other customers probably wonder if I'm a junkie or something.

Me too.

I also hold the cup to my nose for a second before drawing the espresso into my mouth. Once the aroma hits the back of my throat I take that sip. On a good day it drives the experience to an all new level.

(Or I might just be coo coo)

I find empty cups often continue to release a pleasant aroma hours after finishing the shot... reading the OP brought a smile to my face!

Regards, Henry

This morning I made another shot of the Costa Rica de Naranjo Herbazu - which though it is too lightly roasted for my shot - my wife likes it as a fruity base for her morning cappuccino.

Today, I sniffed the cup just seconds after making her coffee - and lo and behold - this time the cup smelled of Marzipan.... a few minutes later ... the Marzipan shifted, again, to something like that Sandalwood incense aroma I noticed yesterday. I am feeling quite the nose dog.

Howard

Brown nosers.

WOW!! I didn't know so many people do this! I do it all the time.

Right after the shot is pulled, I smell it.. take it in long and deep. Then I enjoy it.

Then I smell the cup.

Knock Puck/Rinse Group/Water Backflush(yes, every shot)

Then I smell the cup again.

Just like the espresso itself, the aromas change drastically in a minute or two.

howard seth wrote:I don't know about you guys, but, perhaps, my favorite coffee aroma is when press my nose close to my espresso cup, just after drinking the shot. Often, I experience a really rich tobacco like aroma. Like a really good pipe tobacco (I used to smoke many years ago).

Today I made a shot from a too lightly roasted (for my taste) Costa Rican coffee I home roasted - Costa Rica de Naranjo Herbazu - and the aroma of the cup was reminiscent of Sandalwood incense. Wonderful smell - that I liked better than actually drinking the shot.

Howard

Howard, when my home roast espresso blend features 40% Brazil (full city) the pipe tobacco cuo smell is there as well. Not cigarette, not ashy, but sweet, and NOT Perique or Latakia
I dropped a couple of drops of 1/2 and 1/2 in the cup, swirled around with my finger and sipped...bittersweet chocolate.

Yes, Robert - when you sniff the cup within the first few minutes - the aroma is of a really good - sweet - pipe tobacco. If you sniff the unwashed cup 1/2 hour later - the tobacco aroma has gotten harsh... but not as harsh as my memories of the "smoking car" on the Long Island Railroad. (Do they even have a "Smoking Car" on the L.I.R.R. any longer, I wonder?)

The air out here in Santa Cruz County is so fresh (except , sometimes, during the fire season) - excellent for sniffing espresso cups.

Howard