Triangulation and Discrimination Testing
What you must know
Triangulation measures raw discriminatory ability, not preference. Each set presents three cups - two identical, one different - and you must name the odd cup. With six sets and a one-in-three chance per set, guessing produces roughly two correct sets, so the test only means something if you work systematically.
Method: smell all three cups first, then slurp in a fixed order (1-2, 1-3, 2-3) and compare one attribute at a time - sweetness, acidity, body, aftertaste. The odd cup is the one that breaks the pattern in two comparisons. Differences are often tiny: a slightly rougher finish, a fraction less sweetness, a faintly duller acidity. Temperature matters, so compare cups at the same temperature and re-taste as they cool, because some differences only appear warm or only appear cool.
Sample preparation must be identical: same dose, same grind, same water, same roast. Rinse your spoon and take water between sets to avoid carry-over.
Traps
- Guessing on the first impression instead of confirming with a second comparison.
- Being swayed by visual cues (foam, colour, particulate) rather than taste.
- Assuming the odd cup is worse. It may simply be different or more intense.
- Carrying a strong flavour from the previous set into the next one.
- Misreading the instruction: you identify the odd cup, not the matching pair.
Rule of thumb
If A differs from B, and B matches C, the odd cup is A. Two of the three pairwise comparisons should agree before you commit.