☕ What Makes Coffee “Specialty”?

1. Graded 80+ by Q Graders

• It must score 80 points or above on a 100-point scale by certified coffee tasters (Q Graders).

• Flavor, aroma, acidity, body, balance, and absence of defects are assessed.

 

2. Grown in Ideal Conditions

• Specialty coffee is typically grown at high altitudes, with rich soil and ideal climate conditions.

• Often from regions like Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

 

3. Traceable and Ethically Sourced

• You can trace the coffee to a specific farm, farmer, or cooperative.

• Ethical practices such as fair prices, sustainability, and direct trade are common.

 

4. Expert Processing

• The cherries are handpicked at peak ripeness and carefully processed (washed, natural, or honey methods).

• This preserves the bean’s distinct flavor characteristics.

 

5. Craft Roasting

• Roasters highlight the bean's unique origin flavors, not mask them.

• Often small-batch roasting with precision and testing.

 

6. Brewed with Care

• Specialty coffee is typically brewed with attention to detail — pour-over, Chemex, AeroPress, espresso, etc.

• Water quality, temperature, and grind size all matter.

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💬 Think of it this way:

Specialty coffee is to regular coffee what craft beer is to cheap lager. It's about quality, story, and experience — not just caffeine.