What Makes Coffee Special? (Solved & Explained!)

Many would argue that for coffee to be truly special it needs to satisfy multiple requirements, and only a real balance between where the beans are sourced, how they’re roasted, and – last but not least – how the coffee is brewed results in a cup of truly special coffee.

Others would argue that quality isn’t the only determinant of specialty coffee, and ethics of sourcing and preparing the blend, as well as tools and techniques involved in brewing should be taken into consideration.

Thirds still, would say, that coffee being a specialty blend isn’t necessary for a cup of coffee to be special, but it’s the emotions it evokes and the accompanying service that create the true package.

Let’s discuss.

How important is the place where the beans are sourced?

Coffee is a much more delicate product than many would think. The environment has a direct result in the quality, taste, and aroma of the final roast.

Think of it this way – if you suddenly decide to plant coffee in your backyard, even if you follow instructions diligently, there’s a very little chance of your plant, well, surviving. But even if it does survive, there’s an even smaller chance of your beans brewing a decent cup of coffee.

For true quality coffee, you need professional producers. And even then, you can’t just settle for any farm. You need farms that not just produce coffee, but are invested in producing high-quality beans.

It takes special altitude and climate to produce truly high-quality coffee, and additional bravery on the farmer’s part to discard beans that bear even the slightest defects.

High-quality blends are a result of cooperation between quality-minded farmers and quality-minded roasters. That’s where Direct Trade sourcing comes in.

What’s Direct Trade sourcing?

A Direct Trade sourcing is when the roaster is fully involved in bean selection from start to finish. Directly visits the coffee farm, tastes the beans, and controls the quality (preferably of each batch).

These days many would argue roasters involved in Direct Trade sourcing should also ensure the farm produces beans with high ethical standards.

Does special coffee need to be ethically sourced?

A more complicated question than one would think.

Many would argue that ethically produced low-quality coffee cannot be special by default, while unethically produced coffee could still be high-quality and bear a unique aroma and taste, resulting in a special product.

We’d argue that yes, it has to be both high-quality and ethically produced to be truly special.

Does roasting make the coffee special?

Roasting is, quite possibly, the most important step in the process of achieving that special cup of coffee. Even the highest quality beans cannot survive the hands of an unprofessional roaster.

This is why roasters who are truly dedicated to making the best coffee possible complete many hours of coursework and practical training before they start independently roasting coffee.

To make a good cup of coffee you need a dedicated roaster to have roasted the beans first, and even then some coffee snobs would argue that certain roasts wouldn’t be fit to be classified as special.

Does the level of roasting make the coffee special?

Ah, we’ve finally reached the true crux of the question. The more popular answer would be that no, the level of roasting isn’t what makes coffee special. As long as the roast is handled by a professional roaster in a way that manages to extract the taste and aroma they were aiming for.

But a lesser, if a vocal group, would argue that only light (blonde) roast could deliver a truly special cup of coffee.

Light roasts are considered to preserve the true aroma and taste of coffee. It’s “natural” while medium and dark roasts are distorted, with medium roasts being far too acidic, and darks bearing no natural tastes at all, with roast overtaking it.

Most of the specialty coffee community does seem to prefer working with light roasts, but we’d argue that medium and dark roasts definitely have their place. Especially when it comes to milk-based drinks like latter or cappuccino, where highly acidic medium roast blooms a completely different way, and dark roast balances out the taste much better than a blonde roast.

Is it brewing that makes the coffee special?

Absolutely!

There are no ifs and buts about it. Coffee, in the end, is simply a raw (or roasted) product. If a random coffee shop buys a specialty roast without looking into proper brewing techniques, the final result will be nowhere near what it’s supposed to be.

Real specialty coffee shops know that a well-trained barista is a respected professional that’s worth their weight in gold. They understand which blend works with which brewing method, which tools and equipment are better suited for extracting the most out of which roast, and exactly how long the brewing process should last.

In other words, no, unless a skilled barista turns a specialty coffee roast into a quality drink, no consumer will believe it’s truly special. So it might not be special at all.

Can a cup of latte, cappuccino, or raf coffee be considered special coffee?

Coffee snobs would say no.

But, in the end, the consumer is the final judge to decide if coffee is special or not. And if they enjoy a cup of cappuccino more than a cup of black coffee, then it should be considered special. The emotional component shouldn’t be disregarded.

How does the emotional component factor into all of this?

Using as a double-entendre on the name “specialty coffee”, some argue that even the most high-quality cup of coffee won’t be considered special by consumers if it isn’t able to evoke strong positive feelings.

For a cup of coffee to be special, it’s not enough to serve specialty coffee. Coffee culture, after all, has evolved to the point when specialty coffee isn’t all that special. This is where the emotional component comes in.

A cup of coffee is truly special only when accompanied by sufficient experiences. It’s a product that keeps bringing the consumer back. Not only is it made with a blend that suits their taste and brewed perfectly to their desire, but served with a positive attitude and temptation to return to it.

In other words, a cup of coffee is only truly special if it makes someone think “oh yes, I should go back to it” again and again.