The Specialty Coffee Association
The Specialty Coffee Association: Setting Standards for Quality Coffee The world of specialty coffee is supported by organizations that help maintain quality, education, and standards across the industry. One of the most important of these organizations is the Specialty Coffee...
The Coffee Tasting Wheel: Understanding the Many Flavors of Coffee Many people grow up thinking coffee has only one basic flavor—strong, dark, and bitter. But once you begin exploring specialty coffee, you quickly discover that coffee can have an incredible...
Specialty Coffee vs Commodity Coffee
What is the Difference? Coffee is one of the most widely traded agricultural products in the world. Most coffee falls into two broad categories: commodity coffee and specialty coffee. While both come from the same plant, the way they are...
Billions of Cups a Day — Why the Coffee You Choose Matters
How Much Coffee Is Consumed Each Day? Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Every morning, millions of people begin their day with a cup of coffee, whether at home, at work, or in a...
What Is the Significance of Latte Art? If you order an espresso drink at a coffee shop and the barista serves it with clean, well-structured latte art, it’s often a sign that care and skill went into making the drink....
The Coffee Plant: From Seed to Cup
Coffee Plant Foundations Coffee begins as a small seed that grows into a fruit-bearing tree. While it may seem simple in the cup, growing coffee is a slow and careful process that takes years before the first harvest. Growing a...
A Guide to Common Coffee Beverages
Specialty Coffee Beverages Coffee shops often offer a wide variety of drinks, but most of them are built from the same two ingredients: espresso and milk. Each drink has its own balance of these elements, creating different textures, strengths, and...
How Coffee Becomes Specialty Grade
Specialty Grade Coffee Not all coffee is considered specialty coffee. In order for a coffee to be classified as specialty grade, it must meet specific standards for quality and flavor. These standards help ensure that specialty coffee represents the highest...
What Is Specialty Coffee? Specialty coffee is coffee that is grown, processed, roasted, and brewed with a focus on quality and flavor. Unlike commodity coffee, specialty coffee highlights the unique characteristics of different coffee varieties and the work of the...