General FAQ - Reviewer FAQ

What / How should I be reviewing?
All reviews should be objective. If a shop isn't going to score at least average, it shouldn't be reviewed. This site isn't like some other online rating sites, and isn't meant to be mean or cruel or vindictive.

The same goes for baristas. This is even more important for them. Please don't be mean or hurtful towards people.

What should the reviews look like?
Each drink reviewed should be scored and reviewed on the criteria of the SCAA judging sheets.

For example, if you score a espresso you should talk about the 4 elements that go into scoring an espresso (taste, tactile, C&P, & crema).

What if the shop doesn't make a competition cappuccino?
Ah, the cappuccino category is a little bit forgiving. You may review many milk drinks here. Just adjust for the milk to coffee ratio.

Any milk drinks? 20 oz vanilla latte?
Yea, No. The preferred order of drink rating goes something like this:
1. traditional cappuccino
2. macchiato
3. 8oz or smaller latte
4. Nothing flavored, or large. I will seriously question your street cred

Do I have to order all 3 types of drinks?
Nope, you just need to review any one drink, and the personality and atmosphere. In fact, I'd almost recommend just reviewing one drink per review.

Wait, there isn't a drip section of the sensory score sheet. What are you trying to pull here?
Damn you internets! Ok, this one isn't nailed down, I'm in the process of looking into the brewers cup scoring. For now, I just try to evaluate it like espresso. Sweet/acidic/bitter. You know the drill.
Update! The always amazin' Nick Cho sent me the rules for the brewers cup.

My fingers are too large to use my iPhone for these damn reviews, how much do I have to write?
I look at this like you were *surprise* filling out a judges sheet. Try to get tasting notes as well as notes on every scoring section [Visual, c&p, taste, tactile]. My reviews are about the bare minimum that I'd like to see.

What the heck am I scoring for Atmosphere and Personality?
Atmosphere is mostly the coffee shop aesthetics, how comfortable you are, how well you like it visually, how well it functions.
Personality is mostly the barista. How well does the barista treat you? The WBC rules and regulations puts it best "If in a cafe/ restaurant environment, would this barista have inspired me about specialty coffee? If the judges feel that this has been achieved, they should award high scores."

Pictures, are you fer 'em, or again'em?
I'm fer em, try to get a picture of your drink. We can use this in the future to calibrate against. Also, people love pictures!

Hey, I'd really love to review for you, but I work for this giant roaster so I can't. Sad face.
Sure you can. You should really only be writing reviews about shops producing amazing coffee. So it should all be positive anyway.

No really, I can't.
Ok, we can create you a secret identity then. I've got a bag of mexican wrestler masks here. I've also got some great ideas for fake names. Email me and we can work this out.

Nope, still can't.
Fine, I probably never liked you anyway. *cough*jessekahn*cough*