Specialty Coffee: What Does It Actually Mean?

"Specialty" is more than just a buzzword. It's an official quality classification that separates exceptional beans from the average.

What is Specialty Coffee?

According to SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) standards, specialty coffee is evaluated by Q-Graders on a 100-point scale. To earn the title, it must have:

1. Zero primary defects (no moldy or black beans).
2. A score of 80 points or higher in professional cupping.

The 10 Attributes of Quality

Q-Graders analyze:

1. Fragrance/Aroma, 2. Flavor, 3. Aftertaste, 4. Acidity, 5. Body, 6. Balance, 7. Sweetness, 8. Clean Cup, 9. Uniformity, 10. Overall.

Scoring Scale

• 90–100: Rare / Outstanding.
• 85–89.99: Excellent.
• 80–84.99: Very Good (Specialty).
• Below 80: Commercial grade.

Why the higher price?

You pay for hand-harvesting only ripe cherries, fair wages for farmers (Direct Trade), and meticulous logistics to ensure freshness. It's an investment in quality and ethics.