Specialty coffee

It is a term given to the best types of coffee in terms of taste, quality, and cultivation method. This term is given to coffee that has received more than 80 points out of a 100-point scale by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).

You should be aware of the significant difference between regular and specialty coffee. Specialty coffee is grown at high altitudes and can be meticulously monitored and processed upon harvest. Every step, from growth to preparation, is monitored to continually improve its quality.

One of the most important differences between specialty and commercial coffee, besides taste, is the health benefits. You've probably read about coffee's reduced risk of Alzheimer's, diabetes, and various types of cancer. These are benefits of specialty coffee, not commercial coffee.

Specialty Coffee Association



Of course, it is not healthy to drink specialty coffee excessively. You should drink it in moderation, because even excessive amounts of a good thing can cause sleep disturbances, which is what excessive consumption of specialty coffee can cause. However, the harmful effects of commercial coffee are greater, as it affects the entire body's functions and causes dysfunction. Therefore, it is recommended to drink specialty coffee.

Specialty coffee is the fastest-growing sector in the coffee industry, and coffee-exporting countries are focusing on farm-grade coffee quality to improve their coffee grading results.

Countries like Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Colombia are the birthplace of specialty coffee, while countries like China and India have also begun to enter the field with great enthusiasm. Chikmagalur, located in the Indian state of Karnataka, is home to the Arabica coffee industry.

The term specialty coffee was first used by Erna Knutsen in 1974 in the Tea and Coffee Trade Journal. The term was to describe the highest quality coffee beans that are produced in a special climate, grown at an ideal altitude at the appropriate time of year in good soil, and harvested with care and precision, as they require a great deal of care.

Specialty coffee sells for a higher price than commercial coffee and is purchased directly by roasters and coffee retailers. To qualify as a specialty coffee, the beans must be graded by certified coffee tasters.

Specialty coffee is classified into three types based on the number of points it receives during the American Coffee Association's classification on a scale of 100. If a coffee receives less than 80 points, it is not classified and is not considered specialty coffee.

If you get a rating of 80 to 84.99 points, you reach a very good rating and are considered specialty coffee.

From 85 to 89.99 points, it is classified as excellent and is considered specialty coffee.

From 90 to 100 points, you get an excellent grade, which is the highest rating for specialty coffee.

green coffee

Green coffee is graded based on several characteristics, as determined by visual inspection. Visual inspection involves taking a 350-gram sample of green coffee beans and sorting out any defects. Primary defects may include sour and black beans, while secondary defects may include broken beans.

A coffee is considered specialty when it is free of major primary defects and has fewer than 5 minor defects.

As for the sample, it is the process of roasting and preparing coffee by adding hot water to the coffee beans after grinding them. Specific grades are also set for each of these characteristics, such as flavor, acidity, aroma, and appearance, by coffee evaluators.

coffee roasting

It also maintains that specialty coffee is not limited to the quality of the beans alone, but rather that the processing and roasting process are equally important for enjoying a great coffee experience.

There are certain criteria for the various processes that contribute to your delicious coffee. The final experience depends on not missing any part of the specialty coffee chain. After the coffee beans are processed, the roaster takes the time to understand the coffee, develop roasting methods, and establish a specific roasting path. Now, thanks to improved technology, roasters can connect their roasters to a computer to monitor temperatures and take notes of changes during the roasting process.

Now, the specialty coffee sector is starting to attract attention worldwide. In the United States, daily consumption of specialty coffee has grown from 9% to 34% over the past decade, and the specialty coffee sector in England is expected to grow by 13% annually. For coffee lovers in the Gulf in general, and in Saudi Arabia in particular, there is also good news: the Gulf market is beginning to see increased demand for specialty coffee, thanks to the introduction of new small roasters and increased coffee education.

Now, as you know, specialty coffee differs significantly from commercial coffee in every way, including quality, roasting, preparation, processing, growth monitoring, careful selection of beans, and the different climates used to grow it. This is what sets specialty coffee apart from commercial coffee. If you're a coffee lover, you should choose the best in every way: specialty coffee.