Not all coffee is created equal. While many people are familiar with regular coffee found in supermarkets and coffee shops, specialty coffee offers a completely different experience. From bean quality to cultivation methods, specialty coffee stands out for its superior taste, ethical sourcing, and careful preparation.
But what exactly makes coffee “specialty,” and how does it compare to regular coffee? Let’s explore the key differences.
What Is Specialty Coffee?
Specialty coffee refers to high-quality coffee beans that score 80 points or higher on a 100-point scale, as determined by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). These beans are carefully cultivated, harvested, processed, and roasted to bring out their unique flavors.
Key Characteristics of Specialty Coffee:
✔ Grown at ideal altitudes and climates
✔ Handpicked and carefully processed to maintain quality
✔ Roasted to highlight natural flavors
✔ Often single-origin, showcasing unique characteristics
✔ Ethically sourced with sustainability in mind
How Specialty Coffee Differs from Regular Coffee
1. Bean Quality
- Specialty Coffee: Made from the top 5-10% of coffee beans in the world, carefully selected for flavor and consistency.
- Regular Coffee: Often consists of lower-quality beans, including defective or damaged ones. Many mass-market coffees use a mix of Arabica and Robusta beans, with a focus on cost rather than quality.
2. Growing and Harvesting Process
- Specialty Coffee: Grown at high altitudes in ideal climates (e.g., Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, Brazil). The cherries are handpicked, ensuring only ripe, high-quality beans are selected.
- Regular Coffee: Grown in large commercial farms, often at lower altitudes. Many beans are machine-harvested, which can result in a mix of ripe and unripe cherries.
3. Processing Methods
The way coffee is processed after harvest impacts its final flavor.
- Specialty Coffee: Uses washed (wet), natural (dry), or honey processing methods to enhance unique flavors. Each step is carefully controlled to prevent defects.
- Regular Coffee: Often undergoes fast, mass processing, sometimes leading to inconsistent flavors or bitterness.
4. Roasting Style
- Specialty Coffee: Roasted light to medium to preserve the bean’s natural flavors (e.g., fruity, floral, nutty). Small-batch roasting ensures consistency.
- Regular Coffee: Typically roasted dark to mask defects and create a uniform taste. Many commercial brands prioritize a bitter, smoky flavor over complexity.
5. Flavor Profile
- Specialty Coffee: Offers a wide range of flavors, depending on origin and processing. Notes can include chocolate, berries, citrus, caramel, or floral undertones.
- Regular Coffee: Often tastes bitter, burnt, or flat, as mass roasting prioritizes consistency over flavor depth.
6. Brewing and Freshness
- Specialty Coffee: Sold as whole beans and ground fresh before brewing to preserve aroma and taste. Best enjoyed using manual brewing methods (e.g., pour-over, French press, AeroPress).
- Regular Coffee: Often pre-ground and stored for long periods, leading to a loss of freshness. Commonly brewed in automatic drip machines.
7. Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing
- Specialty Coffee: Often supports direct trade and fair trade partnerships, ensuring farmers receive better wages and work under ethical conditions. Many farms focus on eco-friendly growing practices.
- Regular Coffee: Mass-produced coffee can involve unsustainable farming, lower wages for farmers, and excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
The Rise of Third Wave Coffee
The term “third wave coffee” refers to a movement that treats coffee as an artisanal product, similar to wine. It emphasizes:
✔ High-quality sourcing and traceability
✔ Precise brewing techniques
✔ Unique flavor experiences
This movement has fueled the growth of independent coffee roasters, specialty cafés, and consumer interest in premium coffee.
How to Identify Specialty Coffee
Want to try specialty coffee? Here’s what to look for:
✔ Bean Origin – Look for single-origin coffee from specific farms or regions.
✔ Roast Date – Always buy freshly roasted beans (avoid anything older than 2-3 weeks).
✔ Flavor Notes – Specialty coffee labels often describe tasting notes (e.g., blueberry, caramel, jasmine).
✔ Processing Method – Look for washed, natural, or honey-processed coffee.
✔ Ethical Sourcing – Brands that support direct trade or fair trade ensure farmers receive fair wages.
Is Specialty Coffee Worth It?
If you value high-quality, flavorful coffee and want to support ethical, sustainable farming, specialty coffee is absolutely worth it. While it may be more expensive, you’re paying for superior taste, freshness, and ethical sourcing.
However, if you simply want a quick caffeine fix and don’t care about flavor complexity, regular coffee may be enough.
Conclusion
Specialty coffee is more than just a trend—it’s a movement that celebrates quality, sustainability, and craftsmanship. By choosing specialty coffee, you’re not only enjoying a better cup but also supporting fair wages, ethical farming, and environmentally friendly practices.
If you haven’t tried specialty coffee yet, consider exploring different origins, processing methods, and brewing techniques. You might discover a whole new appreciation for coffee beyond what’s found in supermarkets.