This panelist, having hovered just inches over the cup on the table to judge aroma, is performing the "slurp and spit." Having "slurped" a spoonful of coffee, he is about to spit the sample out. The quick, noisy slurp is necessary to put the true flavor of the coffee in the throat, without confusing the current sample with remnants of other samples. No palette-cleansing sherbet for these stalwarts, who tasted 10-12 samples that morning.