What is Specialty Coffee?

Imagine we're on a journey, exploring the vast and vibrant world of coffee. Our mission? To uncover the secrets behind two very different heroes of this world: Commodity Coffee and Specialty Coffee.

First, let's talk about Commodity Coffee. Picture a vast, endless coffee plantation. Here, coffee is grown on a massive scale, like fields of wheat under the open sky.

Care for the soil is minimal and additive treatment is a must. The cherries rarely reach maturity and remain underdeveloped. This is coffee that's meant for everyone, found in supermarkets and large commercial chains. It's the coffee of the masses, affordable and consistent. But, there's a catch. This coffee, while reliable, is a bit like a loaf of bread that's been sitting on the shelf for far too long. From the time its roasted to the time it reaches your cup, it's often 6 old to one year old. The once vibrant flavors have faded, leaving behind a more generic taste.

Now, enter the world of Specialty Coffee. Imagine shifting from those vast fields to a small, meticulously cared for farm nestled on a hillside.

This is the artisan bakery of coffee. Every bean here is like a prized Diamond. Grown in specific microclimates, these beans are nurtured with individual care and attention. Every small detail is measured. The farmers are like skilled artists, handpicking only the best cherries.

The magic continues in the roasting. Specialty coffee is roasted in small, carefully controlled batches.

This is where the unique flavors – whether they're rich and chocolaty, bright and citrusy, or subtly floral – are coaxed out. It's a symphony of taste, waiting to be unleashed in each cup.

Back to our commodity coffee - it's cheap and it’s roasted in large batches aimed at achieving a uniform flavor. It's less about the art and more about the efficiency, producing a consistent taste that's familiar but lacks the unique nuances and high quality of its specialty counterpart.

One of the most crucial differences is freshness. Imagine biting into a loaf of bread fresh from the oven versus one that's been on the shelf for months. Specialty coffee is often within days of roasting, ensuring that the flavors are vibrant and alive. Commodity coffee, due to its journey through logistics and shelf life, loses that race against time.

Our coffee tale is one of two worlds. Commodity coffee offers low quality affordability and familiarity, a staple of everyday life. Specialty coffee, on the other hand, invites you to a more exquisite experience – a journey in every sip, with flavors that tell the story of their origin, care, and craftsmanship.

And that's the tale of two coffees. Whether you're a casual drinker or a connoisseur, every cup has a story. What's in your cup?