Specialty coffee has been gaining popularity in recent years, with more and more coffee lovers seeking out high-quality, artisanal coffees that are carefully sourced, roasted, and brewed. Specialty coffee is a term used to describe coffees that score 80 points or higher on the Specialty Coffee Association's (SCA) coffee grading scale, which evaluates factors such as aroma, flavor, body, acidity, and balance.
One of the reasons why specialty coffee has become so popular is because it offers a more diverse range of flavors and tastes than traditional commodity coffee. Specialty coffee comes from a variety of regions around the world, each with its own unique terroir, or set of environmental factors that affect the flavor of the coffee. Some popular varieties of specialty coffee include:
Ethiopian Coffee: Ethiopia is known for producing some of the world's best coffee, and Ethiopian coffees are often prized for their fruity, floral flavors and bright acidity.
Burundi Coffee: Their coffees are often characterized by their well-balanced flavor profile, with notes of chocolate, caramel, and citrus.
Kenyan Coffee: Kenyan coffees are known for their complex, wine-like flavors and bright acidity, with notes of black currant, grapefruit, and tomato.
Malawi Coffee: Often praised for their sweetness and clean, bright acidity, with notes of chocolate, citrus, and stone fruit.
In addition to the origin of the coffee, the brewing technique used can also have a significant impact on the flavor of the coffee. Some popular brewing techniques for specialty coffee include:
Pour-over: Pour-over brewing involves slowly pouring hot water over ground coffee in a cone-shaped filter, allowing the water to drip through the coffee and into a cup or carafe. This method is often praised for its ability to highlight the nuanced flavors and aromas of specialty coffee.
French Press: French press brewing involves steeping ground coffee in hot water for several minutes, then using a plunger to separate the brewed coffee from the grounds. This method can produce a rich, full-bodied coffee with a bold flavor profile.
Espresso: Espresso is a concentrated coffee that is brewed under high pressure using finely ground coffee beans. Espresso is known for its strong, intense flavor and thick, creamy crema.
There are several factors that can affect the taste of coffee, including the roast level, the grind size, the water temperature, and the brewing time. Roast level can have a significant impact on the flavor of the coffee, with lighter roasts often highlighting the more delicate flavors and aromas, while darker roasts can produce a smokier, more intense flavor profile. Grind size can also affect the flavor of the coffee, with finer grinds often producing a stronger, more intense flavor, while coarser grinds can result in a lighter, milder flavor.
Whether you prefer a fruity Ethiopian coffee or a rich, full-bodied French press, there is a specialty coffee out there to suit your taste preferences.
