Testing samples
From Sample to 1 kg: Setting Acceptance Criteria
A sample is good enough to order 1 kg when it meets criteria you wrote down before tasting it. Set your knock-out faults, minimum scores, cost ceiling and workflow requirements in advance, then apply them to the test results without moving the goalposts. This article helps you write those criteria and turn a tasting into a go or no-go.
Why decide the criteria first
After a tasting, it is easy to argue for the sample you liked, or to drop a requirement that a favourite missed. Written criteria keep the decision honest and make it easy to explain to the team. They also give you a reference when the 1 kg bag arrives and when you check later deliveries.
Four kinds of criteria
1. Knock-outs
Faults that rule a sample out regardless of anything else. Keep the list short and specific.
- Noticeable grit or sediment in the last sip at your house dose
- Does not mix to a smooth paste with your normal method and time
- Matcha flavour not detectable through your house milk at your house dose
- Colour visibly dull or grey in the cup within the time a drink normally sits before it is served
2. Minimum scores
Use the 1–5 scale from the matcha sample scorecard. Examples of thresholds you might set:
- No score below 3 in the "in milk" block (latte use)
- Average of at least 4 for "matcha flavour through milk"
- For a pure serve: no score below 3 for bitterness and astringency in the straight block
The numbers are examples. Set them to match how central matcha is to your menu.
3. Cost ceiling
Decide the highest matcha cost per serving you can carry, then check each candidate at the dose it actually needs. Matcha cost per serving = price per kg × grams per serving ÷ 1,000.
| Product | Price per kg excl. VAT | At 2 g | At 2.5 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremonial Barista Matcha | €195.00 | €0.39 | €0.49 (€0.4875) |
| Ceremonial Matcha | €265.00 | €0.53 | €0.66 (€0.6625) |
Prices at the time of writing (November 2026); check the product page for the current price. These are matcha costs only, before waste; see matcha cost per serving for adding loss.
If a candidate only passes the flavour criteria at a higher dose, cost it at that dose.
4. Workflow
Requirements from behind the bar, for example:
- Prepared in your current drink time with your existing tools
- Works hot and iced, if you sell both
- Consistent across three cups made by different baristas
A criteria sheet you can copy
Fill this in before the tasting.
| # | Criterion | Type | Threshold | Sample A | Sample B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No grit in the last sip | Knock-out | Pass / fail | ||
| 2 | Smooth paste with house method | Knock-out | Pass / fail | ||
| 3 | Matcha flavour through milk | Score | Average ≥ [ ] | ||
| 4 | Lowest score in "in milk" block | Score | ≥ [ ] | ||
| 5 | Colour after [ ] minutes | Score | ≥ [ ] | ||
| 6 | Matcha cost per serving at required dose | Cost | ≤ €[ ] excl. VAT | ||
| 7 | Hot and iced both work | Workflow | Pass / fail | ||
| 8 | Consistent across 3 baristas | Workflow | Pass / fail | ||
| Decision |
The decision rule
Agree the rule together with the criteria:
- Go: passes every knock-out, meets every minimum score, within the cost ceiling, passes workflow. Order the 1 kg bag.
- Conditional go: passes knock-outs and cost, misses one score or workflow line narrowly. Adjust one variable (dose, milk, mixing method), retest that line only, then decide.
- No-go: fails a knock-out, or misses the cost ceiling at the dose it needs.
If two samples both pass, choose on the weighted score, then on cost per serving. The sample testing protocol describes how to run the tasting that feeds this sheet.
What else to check before ordering
Taste is one part. Before ordering, confirm the practical points that matter to your business:
- Documentation: ask Yumi which documentation is available for the current batch via contact.
- Delivery and ordering terms: check the B2B FAQ for current information on delivery times and ordering. To order, create a business account and enter your VAT number at checkout.
- Quantity: how many bags to start with depends on your volume and storage; how much to order the first time covers that.
When the 1 kg bag arrives
Make one drink with your house recipe from the bulk bag and score it against the sample notes. This gives you a baseline for that delivery and every one after it. Keep the criteria sheet; it doubles as your incoming check.
Next step
Write your criteria sheet now, before you taste. Then run your samples against it, and if one passes, order Ceremonial Barista Matcha in a 1 kg bag for lattes or Ceremonial Matcha for a pure serve.