What is Specialty Coffee?

To put it briefly, specialty coffee is coffee of the highest quality. To be proud of this designation, coffee must score a minimum of 80 out of 100 points in the assessment of qualified Q-graders prepared and certified by the Coffee Quality Institute. Green beans are rigorously assessed, then roasted beans, and finally the drink itself, assessed for purity of taste and aroma. Coffees from all over the world are scored based on the same requirements and standards contained on specially prepared sheets.

Coffees from the freshest harvest

The first requirement that coffees must meet to be called specialty is the freshness of the harvest. Only coffees from the freshest harvests can compete for this title. The grains should also be free of defects. That's why specialty coffee beans are hand-picked so that quality can be checked at every stage. Roasters are obliged to deliver roasted beans to customers no later than four weeks after roasting (and it is best to do it before 14 days). Thanks to the attention to the highest quality processes, we receive a drink with a clean and sweet taste and aroma, from which we can determine where in the world the beans were harvested.

Why is it worth choosing specialty coffee?

By reading the packaging of specialty coffee or its description on the online store's website, we can learn a lot about it. We not only know the basics such as the country of origin or type of coffee, but also the exact region where the plantation is located and its name, height of cultivation and type of processing the beans were subjected to. However, wholesale coffee from hypermarkets is a mystery to us. It is often in vain to look for the roasting date or country of origin on their packaging. Their taste also leaves much to be desired - they do not differ much from each other, they are bitter and even ask for milk and sugar.

Specialty coffees most often come from small plantations, whose owners have the opportunity to take proper care of their crops and personally check their quality. They can expect higher pay for high-quality beans, which is especially important in poor and underdeveloped countries such as Ethiopia, Rwanda or Honduras. Purchasing specialty coffee also provides support and a chance for sustainable development for the regions where the plantations are located. We are also sure that work on these plantations takes place in ethical conditions.

However, what is most important about specialty coffee is its unique taste. First of all, it makes us ready to spend a few zlotys more and reach for a higher-end product. Coffee from the same plantation will never taste the same twice and that is what is most extraordinary about it.

Specialty coffee – what to consider when choosing

When choosing specialty coffee for yourself, you should consider the following aspects:

• species and variety,
• degree of roasting,
• country of origin,
• SCA score,
• type of processing,
• individual taste preferences.

Most often, we have two most popular types of coffee to choose from - Arabica and Robusta. The latter has a much heavier taste and higher caffeine content. Each of them has many different varieties with different aromatic compositions. The degree of roasting of the beans will determine the taste of the coffee - its sweetness, bitterness, acidity and caffeine content. The SCA score divides specialty coffees into very good (80-85 points), excellent (86-90 points) and outstanding (above 90 points). The type of processing determines whether the coffee will be sweeter and thicker, or acidic and free of foreign aromas.

Specialty coffees surprise with a variety of flavors. Depending on the region where the plantation is located, these flavors may have a fruity, floral or caramel aroma. For example, coffees from Brazil are characterized by sweet aromas of chocolate, caramel and hazelnuts. However, strongly fruity coffees come from Guatemala, rich in volcanic soil. Africa is famous for its unique coffees with various fruity flavors and floral aromas. However, remember that this is a generalization and it is always worth checking the coffee label and finding out what is inside the specialty beans.

Where to buy specialty coffee?

Specialty coffees have come to our country for good. They can be ordered not only in online stores, but also in roasteries, and you can also try them in cafes in large cities. Also in our store we offer a wide selection of specialty coffees from Africa, Asia and Central America. For each product, we include a detailed description of where the coffee comes from, and often also presenting the history of the plantation itself. Our catalog includes coffees with various flavors, among which everyone will find something for themselves. Examples of flavor aromas include:

• chocolate,
• orange,
• caramel,
• almonds,
• tangerine,
• orange,
• black pepper,
• mango,
• passion fruit,
• hazelnuts,
• spices,
• rose,
• bergamot.