(Specialty Coffee) How to Choose Specialty Coffee

Contents：
1. What Is Specialty Coffee
2.  Three Good Methods for Choosing Specialty Coffee
3. Specialty Coffee vs. Single Origin Coffee
4.Specialty Coffee vs. Non-Specialty Coffee

Specialty coffee is defined as coffee that scores 80 points or higher in a cupping evaluation. This article provides three methods for the general public to choose high-quality coffee, compares specialty coffee with regular coffee, and concludes with a comparison table of the tasting experience between specialty and non-specialty coffee.

What Is Specialty Coffee

According to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), coffee that scores 80 points or higher in a cupping evaluation is considered specialty coffee. The scoring system goes up to 100 points, with coffee scoring in the range of 80-84.99 being rated as "Very Good," coffee scoring in the range of 85-89.99 as "Excellent," and coffee scoring in the range of 90-100 as "Outstanding." Coffee scoring below 80 points is not considered specialty coffee and is commonly referred to as commercial coffee.

In general, specialty coffee is grown in high-altitude regions and receives meticulous care from farmers. It is typically sold at a higher price to coffee traders or directly to roasters. Roasters craft the ideal roasting profile for each batch of beans to enhance and highlight their natural flavors. Coffee professionals often use high-precision equipment to brew coffee. Specialty coffee is a series of high-quality services that ensure consumers get a quality coffee experience, and it follows a systematic approach to evaluating its quality.

Three Good Methods for Choosing Specialty Coffee

For the average consumer, how do you select specialty coffee without the evaluation skills of a professional cupper? How can you choose specialty coffee through straightforward methods?

1. Traceability: Specialty coffees scoring above 80 points typically come with clear information about their origin, including the country, region, farm, or processing facility, along with details about the processing method and bean grade. For example: "Ethiopia Gediyo Yirgacheffe Worka Banko Gotiti G1 Washed."

2. Distinct Flavor Characteristics: Coffee scoring above 80 points usually offers rich flavors, and some of these flavors are quite distinctive and easy to identify. For instance, coffee from Ethiopia Gediyo Yirgacheffe Worka Banko Gotiti G1 Washed is known for its floral and lemony notes, which are clear flavor characteristics.

3. Usually Higher Price: Coffee that has been carefully nurtured by farmers in its place of origin typically has higher production costs. Conversely, non-specialty coffee that's grown in large quantities using machinery often has lower production costs.

Specialty Coffee vs. Single Origin Coffee

Single origin coffee refers to coffee beans that come from a single producing region or estate, meaning they have clear and traceable origin information. However, when the score of a batch of coffee beans falls below 80 points, it cannot be called specialty coffee and is often referred to as single origin commercial coffee. Typically, when discussing specialty coffee, it often involves single origin coffee. However, since the definition of specialty coffee is a cupping score of 80 points or higher, coffee made by blending two or more batches of 80-point green beans (blended coffee) can also be considered specialty coffee, although it is not single origin coffee. It can be referred to as specialty blend coffee. For example, Justin Coffee's Premium Blend Specialty Coffee (Winey Blend, Flowery Blend, Fruity Blend ,Cocoa Blend). In today's trend, people enjoy single origin specialty coffee, which is why Justin Coffee offers over a hundred different single origin specialty coffees.

Specialty Coffee vs. Non-Specialty Coffee

The reason specialty coffee continues to thrive is because those involved in the coffee industry make quality their lifelong pursuit and continually place quality at the forefront. Throughout the life cycle of coffee beans, this is not the work of one person but a collective effort where everyone in the coffee value chain works in harmony and maintains a high level of attention to standards and excellence from start to finish. When coffee drinkers choose specialty coffee, they are supporting the specialty coffee industry. When you take the time to seek out a coffee roastery that focuses on quality or spend time discussing coffee brewing methods with your barista, you are not only demonstrating a commitment to higher standards of taste and flavor but also contributing to a higher quality of life for every coffee professional who has played a part in the journey.

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