SCAA recently posted one of the most interesting talks from last month's Symposium in Seattle: Lindsey Bolger's presentation on the development of a new and (most importantly) standardized lexicon for tasting coffee. The lexicon is being funded by World Coffee Research initially for guidance in choosing the most promising new hybrids under development in test farms. But the implications are obvious for descriptors that might enhance or replace SCAA's long-used Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel for buyers and roasters (which was itself inspired by U.C. Davis's Wine Aroma Wheel).

We commonly talk about Yrgacheffe tasting of "blueberries." Now we have a standard to calibrate the sensation of "blueberriness" and its intensity. For reasons of convenience and availability, and not because it represents the apex of blueberry cultivation, that standard happens to come from one producer's cans of Oregon blueberries.

Lindsey is a great speaker in addition to being one of the industry's most respected cuppers (now V.P. of coffee buying for Keurig/Green Mountain). I promise you won't be bored.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCTlk1uj1nM