Specialty-grade coffee is simply the highest quality coffee available. It is grown in ideal conditions, with perfect weather and rich soil, and is carefully processed and roasted to perfection. This results in an incredibly flavorful coffee with no defects whatsoever.
Specialty coffee describes coffee that has been rated and scored by professional tasters, known as cuppers, to have a quality rating of 80 or above out of 100. Here are some ways to tell specialty coffee from other coffees:
Grading: Specialty coffee is graded by professionals using a strict set of criteria that evaluates factors such as aroma, flavor, acidity, body, balance, sweetness, and aftertaste.
Origin: Specialty coffee is sourced from high-quality beans that are grown in the best coffee-growing regions around the world.
Roasting: Specialty coffee is carefully roasted to enhance the unique characteristics of the beans and bring out their full potential.
Packaging: Specialty coffee is typically packaged in small batches with the roast date clearly marked on the package to ensure maximum freshness.
Price: Specialty coffee is generally more expensive than other coffees due to the higher quality beans, roasting techniques, and packaging methods.
Taste: Specialty coffee is known for its complex and nuanced flavor profiles, with distinct notes of fruit, chocolate, nuts, and spices.
Quality control: Specialty coffee is subject to rigorous quality control measures at every stage of production, from sourcing to roasting to packaging, to ensure consistency in flavor, aroma, and quality.
