Gender preference in hedonic ratings for espresso and espresso-milk coffees

Espresso, cappuccino and latte are new coffee products entering the daily lives of many consumers. There is increasing consumption of such speciality coffees but no sensory basis for new product development. This study was designed to meet this need. Preference in 100 consumers was studied using six espresso blends of coffee beans. Blends were specifically developed to match key European and North American styles. Products prepared were both espresso and espresso-milk coffees. It was observed that females and males had different preferences for espresso coffee but that this effect was reduced on addition of milk. Gender of target consumer, and end use of espresso, should be thus considered in developing coffee blends. In this way acceptability in specific or target groups of consumers can be maximised. In addition individuals may experience a development of appreciation of coffee character reflected in a change in preference.