What Is Specialty Coffee
If you’ve ever wondered what the difference is between a standard roast and a specialty coffee, you’re not alone. The quality of specialty coffee can be vastly different than average brew. While quality and taste may be closely related, some differences can be significant. There are several different methods for grading coffee. One of these is sensory analysis, otherwise known as cupping. This method involves assessing various factors like balance, sweetness, body, acidity, fragrance, and flavor.
The standards for specialty coffee vary slightly from country to country. There are several criteria that must be met in order to earn this grade. For instance, it must be 100% hand picked, have a score of 80 or above, and have no more than five defects per 350 g. Moreover, it must not have any “quakers,” or beans that are not fully ripe or under-roasted. The goal is to produce an unblemished cup that contains only the intended flavors.
The process of grading coffee is similar to wine. Specialty coffee is sold to consumers with a higher price tag, and is generally made from a higher grade. While there is no universal grading system for coffee, it is important for farmers, cafe owners, and roasters to have an idea of the grade before buying. It also helps consumers recognize the difference between a high-grade coffee and a cheap, unsatisfying cup.
What Is Specialty Coffee and How Is It Graded?
The highest-quality coffee is called specialty coffee. It is rated out of 100, and can only be obtained when the entire coffee value chain works together to ensure the highest quality of coffee. Coffee beans are typically graded using a process called cupping. The Specialty Coffee Association defines a specialty coffee as an Arabica coffee with a cup score of eighty-five points or higher. However, green coffee beans can contain many faults and therefore will not qualify for the specialty case.
Specialty coffee is a coffee that meets a strict standard of quality. Whether it’s green beans, roasted beans, or prepared coffee, specialty coffee is a high-end beverage that offers the best of both worlds. By delivering quality and adding value, specialty coffee will make a difference to the lives of all who participate in its production. You’ll be proud to call your drink specialty, and if you’re not, you should try something different.
Specialty coffee has been around for a few decades now, but it is still fairly new in the world. A variety of new standards have been implemented to make coffee more high-end. Fair-trade coffee and specialty coffee protocols have been created to help consumers select the best brews. These new standards have also given rise to an increasingly sophisticated consumer base. So how is specialty coffee graded?
Green coffee is rated via cupping and visual inspection. Visual inspection involves a sample of 350g green beans, and counting defects. A cup of coffee that scores 80 or higher is considered specialty. A cup of coffee that scores over 80 on the cupping test has no defects, and a dry weight between nine and 13 percent. Then, grade 3 is considered exchange grade coffee, and contains nine-to-23 full defects.