Drinking Coffee: How Our Senses Work

When we drink a cup of coffee, we detect it using the receptors of our bodies, and that information is then converted into activated neurons. Waves of light are converted into colors, with the mouth receptors trying to classify the beverage as one of the five basic tastes: salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and umami (the pleasant, savory taste).

All these signals are then woven together and recognized by the brain, and it is still not the absolute reflection of reality but is a highly subjective experience.