Specialty Coffee Definition and Standards
Specialty coffee refers to the highest quality coffee beans, carefully selected, grown, processed, and roasted to create a distinctive cup with flavor profiles and aromas. The term was first used in 1974 by Erna Knutsen. The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has standards that coffee must meet to be considered "specialty": scoring 80 points out of 100 on quality, processing methods, roasting, and cup quality.
Specialty Coffee Production
Specialty coffee starts with coffee farmers who grow and care for the coffee by understanding the soil and focusing on quality over quantity of beans. Only ripe cherries create the best coffee beans. The specialty beans are then prepared well, roasted freshly, and brewed properly to highlight unique flavors. Specialty coffee requires high altitude and ideal farming conditions and is processed carefully to prevent defects, mold, and over-fermentation.
Why Choose Specialty Coffee
Specialty coffee is better because it is cared for from tree to cup, producing complex flavors. The high-quality arabica beans are grown at high altitudes by skilled farmers and roasted to highlight natural flavors. Look for a cup of excellence logo to ensure you are getting specialty coffee.
If you love great tasting coffee, choose speciality. The taste is incomparable as so much effort goes into making it. Since speciality coffee shops now offer subscriptions, coffee is delivered at its peak – bringing complex flavours. The process is completed by an experienced barista serving the frothy cup.