Sightseer Coffee Cupping

Sightseer Coffee is hosting a cupping at Switchback Coffee and Beer on Monday, September 14, from 5 PM to 6 PM. For the uninitiated, a cupping is basically a coffee tasting session: you get several different brews side by side so you can compare them and figure out what you actually like.

Sightseer is a local Austin roaster, and this one is built around five of their roasts. The roaster will walk everyone through each one, so you're not just sipping in silence—you'll get a sense of what makes each roast different and how to talk about it. Among the five is Hellacious, which is a regular on Switchback's espresso menu, and a first look at their new I Want Candy blend. If you find something you love during the session, retail bags are available to buy that night, so you can take it home and brew it yourself.

It's a good way to spend a Monday afternoon if you've been wanting to get more into coffee without having to guess your way through a menu. You'll taste five different roasts in a single hour, and since the roaster is there to guide the whole thing, it works whether you're a total beginner or someone who already knows their way around a V60. The cupping is free, and it runs from 5 PM to 6 PM at Switchback Coffee and Beer in Austin.