Score your roasts using Brief 100-point ratings or the full SCA cupping protocol. Visualize with spider charts and flavor wheels. Compare side-by-side to track improvement over time.
Roasting without tasting is flying blind. You can track every temperature point and nail your timing, but the real question is: how does it taste? And more importantly — how does it taste compared to last time? Did that extra 30 seconds of development time bring out more chocolate, or did it flatten the acidity you were after?
The Ratings module connects your roasting data to what actually matters: the cup. SCA-aligned scoring, flavor intensity mapping, and 300+ tasting notes give you a structured way to capture what you're experiencing — so the next time you're dialing in a roast, you have real data on what worked and what didn't, not just a vague memory of "that one was pretty good."
The Ratings module closes the feedback loop in your roasting journey. After roasting and brewing, come here to score the result. You can use the Brief rating (a 10–100 score with 5 attributes) for fast impressions or dive into the full SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) cupping protocol for detailed attribute-level scoring.
Spider charts visualize your scores across attributes like aroma, acidity, body, and balance. The Compare feature lets you put two ratings side-by-side to see exactly what improved. Over time, the Charts and Summary views reveal your scoring patterns and long-term trends.
The Ratings module changes significantly based on your display mode:
Guided Cupping is designed to be approachable for beginners — you don’t need SCA terminology to start evaluating your roasts. Want structured palate training? Java Geek’s Tasting & Sensory pillar includes a home-cupping procedure and a triangulation drill for exactly that.
The Tasting view is designed for Craft mode roasters who prefer a sensory-first workflow. It mirrors the natural rhythm of roasting: roast, rest, taste. You don’t need to remember when each roast happened — the app tracks rest time for you and lets you know when beans are ready. If you want more detailed scoring, switch to Journey or Science mode for the full cupping protocol.
Brief ratings are ideal for immediate impressions after brewing — five attributes on the same 100-point scale as full cupping, so your scores stay comparable. Even brief notes add valuable context when you review ratings later.
SCA scores of 80 and above indicate specialty-grade coffee. For the most accurate results, cup at room temperature (not hot) — heat masks defects and mutes subtle flavors. Score each attribute independently without letting one strong impression bias the others. The spider chart makes imbalances immediately visible.
For the clearest insights, compare roasts of the same bean with different parameters. If you are comparing different beans, note that origin characteristics will dominate the comparison. Always check environment differences — a rushed brew or different water can explain score changes that have nothing to do with the roast.
Different views answer different questions. By Coffee is best for tracking your improvement on a specific bean over time. By Method reveals whether your pour over technique produces better scores than your espresso. By Roast Level helps identify your sweet spot for each origin.
The Tasting Guide is a learning tool — review it before cupping sessions, especially when you are starting out. Understanding what "acidity" means in cupping (brightness, not sourness) and what "body" encompasses helps produce more consistent and meaningful scores. Under CVA there is no single "80 = specialty" cutoff — that was a 2004-era convention.
Spider charts are powerful for revealing your flavor preferences — if you consistently rate acidity highly, you likely prefer bright, clean coffees. The Summary view shows long-term scoring patterns across all your ratings. Both views become more useful as you accumulate more data.
Predicted ratings improve in accuracy as you log more ratings — the system learns your preferences. They are useful for setting expectations before you cup. The quality modifier rewards consistency — hitting your target roast level precisely tends to produce your best scores.
Roast score beside your cup scores: While you cup, the Roast Quality Score appears beside your cup scores — so you can separate roast execution from bean character before you score the cup.