What are the distinguishing features of specialty coffee?

The distinguishing features of specialty coffee revolve around its high quality, unique flavors, and often single-origin characteristics. Specialty coffee is carefully grown, harvested, and processed, typically in specific regions known for their unique environmental conditions that influence the coffee's flavor profile. These coffees often score 80 points or higher on a 100-point scale as evaluated by certified coffee tasters, indicating their exceptional quality.

Single-origin specialty coffees come from a specific location or farm, highlighting the unique attributes of that area, such as climate, soil, and processing methods. This aspect of specialty coffee allows for a diverse range of flavors and aromas that can vary significantly from one batch or region to another, providing a distinctive experience for consumers. The focus on flavor complexity and transparency in sourcing differentiates specialty coffee from lower-quality or mass-produced options, which often lack distinctive tastes and are blended from multiple sources.

This understanding underscores the importance of quality and the appreciation for the unique characteristics of coffee, which are hallmark traits of specialty coffee.