What is Specialty Coffee?

     images of baristas in black and white Victorian-style costumes probably come to mind. But what exactly is specialty coffee? That word has been bandied about so much that it’s almost lost all meaning. However, when we look past the old-school image and fussy terminology, it’s clear that ‘specialty’ refers to an industry that is constantly moving forward in new and exciting ways. Whether you want to know where your next caffeine fix will come from or if you want to start making a career in specialty coffee, this guide has everything you need to know about this dynamic niche. Read on for everything you ever wanted to know about specialty coffee but were afraid to ask 

What Does Specialty Coffee Mean? 

     Specialty coffee is coffee that has been sourced, roasted, and brewed to specific standards. It’s more than just your average cup of coffee – it’s a carefully sourced, roasted, and brewed product. There are two main sub-categories of specialty coffee: - Specialty Coffee: This is coffee that has been carefully sourced, roasted, and brewed to specific standards. - Specialty Coffeehouses: These are coffee shops that aim to provide a coffee-drinking experience that is different from that of the average coffee joint. The coffee that is sold in these coffeehouses is often different from the coffee that you can buy in a can from your local supermarket. Specialty coffeehouses source their beans from independent coffee roasters and tend to use better quality beans than the major coffee brands. 

How is Specialty Coffee Different from Regular Coffee? 

     Apart from being delicious, specialty coffee is different from regular coffee in two main ways: - Specialty coffee is usually sourced from single-origin beans. Regular coffee is usually a blend of different beans, whereas specialty coffee is sourced from just one. A classic example of a single-origin coffee is Brazilian beans. - Specialty coffee is usually roasted to a lighter level than regular coffee. Whereas dark roasts tend to taste bitter, lighter roasts have a sweeter flavor and are often used in espresso-based drinks. 

     Yes! In fact, most of the coffee that you can buy in a can from the supermarket falls into this category. It’s often brewed with an espresso machine and served in a large paper cup. However, the experience of drinking this coffee is very different from that of drinking specialty coffee. Most notably, the beans used in standard coffees are often blended from different origins, whereas specialty coffee uses just one origin. A classic example of a standard coffee is Starbucks’ “house blend,” which combines beans from Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Specialty coffee, on the other hand, only uses beans from one single origin. 

The Rise of Single Origin Coffees and Micro-lot Beans 

    In the 1950s, most coffees were roasted to a dark, almost charcoal-like, level and were primarily consumed in the form of espresso. However, the rise of new coffee-drinking habits in the 1960s ushered in a new era for coffee. One of the most important developments was the rise of single-origin coffees, which are roasted to a lighter level than their multi-origin counterparts, and roasted just before they are sold. Unlike blends whose flavors are created in the mixing bowl, single-origin coffees are roasted to enhance their natural flavors. This allows you to taste the roasted sweetness, fruity notes, and chocolatey undertones. Specialty coffeehouses also started to take greater care of their beans, with many roasteries starting to track their beans’ entire journey from farm to cup. This is known as “sourcing” and allows roasteries to track their beans back to the exact farm where they were grown. This tracking system allows roasteries to ensure that their beans are ethically and sustainably sourced, which is vital for the specialty coffee industry to maintain its high standards. 

The Specialty Coffee Process 

The Coffee Farmer

Specialty coffee's journey starts with the farmers and producers who, in many cases, have been perfecting their harvest for decades. Each individual farmer will have honed their trade over time, enabling them to grow and harvest coffee of the finest quality. 

Specialty coffees will be grown in a few specific places across the world where the necessary soil, climate, and altitude conditions exist. These elements affect how a coffee tastes, smells, and feels, leaving a distinct geographical signature.

Expert coffee growers will spend the rest of their lives producing the perfect coffee bean, emphasizing quality over quantity.

Green Coffee Buying

After that, the coffee is handed to a "green coffee buyer," who frequently holds a license to grade specialty coffee. The coffee will be tasted and inspected for quality, then rated in accordance with SCA standards. 

However, the job of the green coffee buyer doesn't end with coffee tasting and scoring. The green coffee buyer frequently contributes tasting notes for inclusion on coffee packaging and gives thorough information about their preferred coffee to roasters and coffee-selling enterprises. 

Roasting

After that, specialty coffees are passed to the coffee roaster, who may also be certified by the SCA for expertise in roasting specialty coffee beans.

Coffee roasters are masters of their craft. They carefully use their understanding of heat transport and thermodynamics to develop a special roast profile that brings out the best flavor in the coffee bean.

Serving

The coffee is then sent to be served by a Barista after the first three stages have been finished and all quality control checks have been passed. The last "guarantor" of the coffee's quality will be the barista, who may also be SCA-certified, and will make sure the customer enjoys the coffee as intended.

This is why the barista's position in the specialty coffee lifecycle is so vital. The quality of the finished product depends on the barista's skill to properly brew the coffee and extract the beans' full flavor.

The Consumer

You as the consumer are the final stage in the specialty coffee process. By taking the time to discover independent coffee establishments that pride themselves on their specialty coffee offering, you're actively contributing to the demand that drives the industry, improving the lives of coffee farmers around the world, and demonstrating a commitment to high-quality, ethically sourced coffee.

The Importance of Being Certified

Specialty coffee is regulated by The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), which sets standards for everything from the sourcing of beans to the brewing process. Many roasteries and coffee shops refer to themselves as “certified” in order to adhere to these standards. For example, a roastery may refer to itself as “certified” if it adheres to SCAA’s standards for sourcing and brewing. This certification can be important for coffee drinkers because it shows that their coffee has been sourced and roasted to a high standard. In addition, the SCAA provides helpful information to consumers such as the flavor notes of each coffee and brewing tips. This level of transparency is not often found in the standard coffee market, which is why specialty coffee is so highly regarded.

Bottom line: Where to Find the Best Specialty Coffee

To find the best specialty coffee, you first need to determine your taste preferences. This will help you to narrow down your search and will enable you to find a roaster that caters to your specific tastes. Once you’ve found a roaster whose coffee you enjoy, look for their beans in coffee shops. Alternatively, you can purchase beans online and brew them in your home with the help of a coffee-brewing guide. With so many options available, you’re sure to find a specialty coffee that suits your tastes and is brewed to the highest standards.