What is specialty coffee?
What is specialty coffee, and why is it so special? This article explores the origins, characteristics, and processes that make every cup a unique and enriching experience.
What is Specialty Coffee?
Specialty coffee is a high-quality coffee, rated above 80 points on a scale of 100 by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).
This distinction is not just a number; it embodies a quest for perfection from farm to cup, involving traceability, a unique terroir, and meticulous craftsmanship.
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)
Founded in 1982 in the United States, the SCA is a global institution working towards a sustainable, fair, and high-quality coffee industry. By merging with the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) in 2017, it became an essential authority in the coffee world. Its rigorous rating system guarantees the exceptional quality of specialty coffees.
The Rating Process
Specialty coffees are evaluated by Q-Graders, certified experts who use a strict protocol to assign scores based on criteria such as aroma, flavor, acidity, body, and sweetness.
A coffee is considered specialty if it scores over 80 points. This process ensures that only coffees without major defects and with high sensory complexity can claim this title.
Characteristics of Specialty Coffee
Exemplary Traceability
Every specialty coffee offers complete traceability, allowing you to know its country of origin, production region, and even the specific farm or cooperative. This transparency ensures not only superior quality, but also a story and a commitment to the producers.
Unique Tasting Notes
Specialty coffees, often Arabicas, have distinct and varied aromatic profiles, comparable to fine wines. Each cup reveals subtle nuances resulting from the terroir and the careful work of the producers. For this reason, we select coffees that offer unique, never standardized, tasting experiences.
Free from All Major Defects
To be classified as specialty coffee, green (unroasted) coffee must be free from any major defects and contain fewer than five minor defects in a 350 g sample. This rigorous control ensures impeccable quality at every stage of production.
How to Recognize Specialty Coffee?
Origin
Specialty coffee always specifies its origin, including the country and the producing farm. This information is crucial to guarantee the traceability and quality of the product.
Harvest
Specialty coffees are hand-picked to select only ripe beans, ensuring optimal quality. Only lots from the latest harvest are used, thus ensuring maximum freshness.
Roasting
Roasting specialty coffees is an art in itself. We use artisanal roasting, often light to medium, to fully reveal the aromatic potential of each coffee. This method respects the coffee's history and terroir, creating custom roasting profiles.
Specialty Coffee Varieties
Specialty coffees are mainly Arabicas, but there are many varieties within this species, such as Moka or Bourbon, each offering unique flavor characteristics. At Shoùka, we explore these varieties to offer our customers a diverse and refined selection.
The Price of Specialty Coffee
Specialty coffee is often more expensive than conventional coffee. This cost reflects not only its rarity and quality, but also sustainable production and fair compensation for everyone in the value chain.
At Shoùka, we believe in responsible and ethical consumption, where every cup of coffee supports sustainable and fair practices.
Why Choose Specialty Coffee?
Sustainable Coffee
The SCA promotes sustainable coffee production, ensuring environmentally friendly farming practices and fair working conditions for producers.
Superior Quality
Every stage, from cultivation to the cup, is optimized to ensure exceptional quality. Specialty coffee offers a superior tasting experience thanks to its aromatic complexity and lack of defects.
Traceability and Ethics
Choosing specialty coffee means supporting a transparent and fair production chain. At Shouka, we are committed to offering traceable and ethical products, thus strengthening our connection with producers and our customers.
Specialty coffee represents excellence in the coffee world, combining quality, ethics, and traceability. We are proud to offer these exceptional coffees, originating from unique terroirs and produced with care.
