“Specialty coffee.”
You’ve seen it on café menus, in Instagram hashtags, and maybe even heard a barista drop it mid-conversation. But what is it, really?
Let’s get straight to it.
Specialty coffee isn’t just a marketing term or a fancier way to say “good coffee.” It’s a label with meaning, standards, and care behind it. It refers to coffee that scores 80 points or more (out of 100) by certified professionals called Q Graders—the sommeliers of the coffee world.
But it’s not all about numbers. Specialty coffee is about quality from start to finish—from the soil where it grows to the hands that brew it. Every step of the journey is done with intention and precision, aiming to bring out the unique characteristics of the coffee bean’s origin.
You might be wondering…
“So… do all cafés that claim ‘specialty coffee’ actually serve it?”
Not always. Some cafés use the term loosely, but true specialty coffee is traceable, scored, and handled with care at every stage. It’s more than just the taste in your cup—it’s about the journey it took to get there.
🔝 Top 5 Features of Specialty Coffee
Want to spot the real deal? Here are the five defining features that make specialty coffee stand out:
- High Quality Beans
Specialty coffee starts with exceptional Arabica beans, grown at higher altitudes and harvested with care to ensure peak ripeness and flavor. - Scored 80+ by Q Graders
To be considered “specialty,” the coffee must score 80 or above on a 100-point scale, based on aroma, flavor, balance, and overall experience. - Traceability & Transparency
You can usually trace specialty coffee all the way back to the farm, and sometimes even the individual lot. It’s about knowing where and how your coffee was produced. - Ethical & Sustainable Practices
It’s not just about the bean—it’s about the people. Specialty coffee prioritizes fair wages, sustainable farming methods, and respectful long-term relationships in the supply chain. - Distinctive Flavors
Specialty coffee isn’t meant to taste like “coffee” as we traditionally know it. Instead, it celebrates a wide range of natural flavor notes—from fruity and floral to nutty and chocolatey—without any additives.
So, what is specialty coffee?
It’s not hype. It’s not about being snobby.
It’s about celebrating coffee that’s grown and crafted with intention, integrity, and individuality.
Stick around for Episode 2, where we’ll dive into how to taste coffee like a pro (yes, slurping will be involved 😄). And if you’re curious to explore specialty coffee yourself, we’ll be sharing our tips and our beans along the way.
You can also stop by at our Café and talk to our Baristas! (They love to talk about this stuff)
