‘Especially’ coffee is also known as ‘Speciality coffee’. It implies a coffee that grades 80 points or more out of 100 points on a taste scale. This grading occurs in a specific process called cupping, which grades the coffee based on some defects present in it.
Further, the grading is according to the scale set by a certified coffee taster such as the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) or by a licensed Q grader, for example, a Coffee Quality Institute (CQI).
This article will look at what specialty coffee is, and what makes specialty coffee different from regular coffee.
What Are Various Coffee Gradings According To Q Grade Score?
Following are coffee gradings according to Q grade score:
- A Q Grade Score ranging from 90-100 refers to an “outstanding” Especially coffee.
- Coffee with Q Grade Score laying anywhere between 85-89.99 corresponds to an “excellent” grade for Especially coffee.
- A Q Grade Score of 80-84.99 grades the coffee as “very good” in terms of Especially coffee.
- Coffee with a Q Grade Score below 80 lies below the level of Especially coffee.
How Does Coffee Grading Take Place Manually?
Coffee grading takes place by following two methods:
- Visual Inspection.
- Cupping.
How Is Visual Inspection Carried Out?
Here are a few steps to carry out a visual inspection:
- Take about 350 grams of green coffee beans.
- Count the defective beans.
- Defects can either be primary or secondary.
- Primary defects include the color of beans e.g. black beans.
- Secondary defects refer primarily to any damage to the beans such as broken beans.
- For specialty coffee, you need to have zero primary defects and less than five secondary defects in the beans.
How Is Cupping Carried Out?
Cupping involves the following basic steps:
- Roasting the coffee.
- Brewing coffee with hot water.
- Grading by assigning scores according to the acidity, body, flavor, and aroma of coffee.
What Makes Especially Coffee So Special?
Especially coffee refers to the best-tasting coffee. Here are some of the features that make it special:
- Growth at the perfect altitude.
- Growth at the correct time of year.
- Cultivation in the best soil.
- Farmed in optimal moisture content.
- Harvestation at the right time.
Which Factors Contribute Towards Making Especially Coffee?
Various factors are important in the process of making specialty coffee. Any irregularity in these can ruin the potential of coffee to become special.
Here are some of these contributing factors:
- Level of ground.
- Harvesting.
- Processing.
- Delivery Time.
- Roasting.
What is the Level of Ground?
Coffee grows only in the most ideal conditions of soil, altitude, and environment.
Planting seeds in the wrong spot in the wrong soil results in loss of specialty certification.
What is Harvesting?
After planting the coffee beans in the perfect spot, in the best soil, and at the perfect altitude, it is equally important to pick them up at the perfect time. According to the coffee growers, harvesting at the right time is considered the most critical step for obtaining coffee beans i.e. the best quality beans.
What is Processing?
The processing stage requires careful management of coffee beans. It involves proper washing, removing the skin, and drying.
Even sufficient drying for an appropriate period ensures that your coffee will be special.
What is Delivery Time?
After picking, it is important to ensure fast delivery. Quick delivery helps in maintaining the freshness and potential of coffee beans.
Coffee loses its specialty if the delivery takes too long.
What is Roasting?
A coffee transformation from green coffee beans to final roasted coffee mainly depends upon the roaster.
For this purpose, successful identification of the potential of coffee and roasting it accordingly plays a vital role. Any mistake in packaging, transporting, roasting, or grounding means that the coffee is no longer special.
What Is The Historical Background Of Specialty Coffee?
Specialty coffee has existed for a long time as far back as the early 1900s. The term “Speciality coffee” was first introduced in the 1970s in the Tea and Coffee Trade Journal. A few years back, the first Starbucks store was opened.
Since that time, continuous improvements in agriculture and technology led to better roasting and brewing techniques. Additionally increased demand for high-quality coffee made specialty coffee very popular across the globe.
What Are The Best Growing Regions For Specialty Coffee?
Most commercial coffee-producing countries of the world also grow coffee in small amounts. However, there are a few exceptions as well. Countries such as Ethiopia, Colombia, and Kenya are famous for producing coffee.
On the other hand, many countries of the world that are not known much also produce coffee. For instance, Panama has become popular recently for producing some of the best coffee in the world.
Highly educated farmers focussing on modern farming methods and increasing biodiversity helped Panama in making a name for itself in the coffee world.
Further, its small size and the beneficial effects of two oceans surrounding the region provide the land with a series of diverse microclimates, hence enhancing the growth of coffee.
What Percentage Of Coffee In The US Is Specialty Coffee?
About 37% of coffee cups in the US represent specialty coffee.
How Much Volume And Value Does Specialty Coffee Hold In The US Coffee Market?
The retail value of the US coffee market is approximately 30-32 billion dollars. Specialty coffee shares about 50% of this value and holds 37% by volume.
How Is Specialty Coffee Different From Commercial Coffee?
Here are some differences between specialty coffee and commercial coffee:
Packaging
Specialty coffee comes in one-pound bags or bulk in the form of whole beans. It requires grinding before brewing.
In contrast, commercial coffee is available in little bottles. It can either be instant or is already ground. It is usually present in a tin or plastic-encased collapsed brick.
Roasting
The roasting of specialty coffee usually takes place in small stores or factories. It uses traditional methods and technology for roasting. It is usually sold at the place where its roasting has been done.
On the other hand, roasting and packaging of commercial coffee occur in large coffee plants. These plants work under nationally advertised brand names.
Variety of choices
Specialty coffee provides more choices than a commercial one. It is available in terms of the place of origin of coffee beans such as Kenya or Colombia.
You can buy it according to the roast like French roast or Italian roast. It is also present concerning the blend designed for the time of day, price, or according to flavor.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.