Some people have perfect pitch and can name any note they hear and tell you if it is sharp or flat. Some people have what I’ll call perfect taste because they can compare the taste of today’s coffee roast (for instance) to one they had last week and describe the differences.
I have neither perfect pitch or taste, and I am the poorer for it. Yesterday I bought a cup of Peet’s Fair Trade Blend and my lovely wife asked if it was better than Major Dickinson’s (our current favorite). I can’t answer that question. I only know if I like it or don’t like it, unless I could taste both together at the same time. Her taster seems to work otherwise; perhaps that’s why she is such a good cook.
Luckily, I can buy or brew “good enough for me” coffee most any time. The worst cup of coffee, or at least the most memorable cup of coffee I didn’t like, was in a cowboy bar in a little town in Montana while we were on an unsupported bike tour. It was raining, and we were freezing. We stopped at the only thing that was open to warm up, and the only coffee they had was what was left over from the night before in a big percolator. It was bitter, nasty stuff whose only redeeming value was that it warmed our hands as we held the cup.
Dad! =) This cracked me up! I could have written this exact part myself: “I can’t answer that question. I only know if I like it or don’t like it, unless I could taste both together at the same time.” I can so relate!! Mark has tried to ask me similar questions like which Mom asked you, and seriously, I just don’t know! I only know that it tastes fine and I like it and I’m happy. : ) It has seemed silly to me that I couldn’t be more descriptive, but now I know not only am I not alone, but now I know where I get it from too!! (wink)