From Crop to Cup: Tracing the Origins and Meaning of Specialty Coffee

What makes specialty coffee so unique and meaningful? This article explores the crop-to-cup process behind high-quality, sustainable coffees and why they matter.

Table of Contents

• The Origins of Specialty Coffee
• The Meaning and Value of Specialty Coffee
• Sourcing: From Crop to Cup
• Roasting for Flavor and Quality
• Brewing Methods
• Specialty Coffee Culture and Community
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Origins of Specialty Coffee

Coffee originated in Ethiopia, where the first coffee plants grew wild. By the 15th century, coffee cultivation and trade had spread to Arabia and beyond. As the demand for coffee grew globally over the centuries, mass production and commodity-style coffee became the norm.

The specialty coffee movement emerged in the 1960s and 70s as a response to this, with a focus on higher quality, sustainably grown coffees. Specialty coffee prioritizes factors like:

• Coffee variety and genetics
• Terroir and growing conditions
• Harvesting and processing methods
• Freshness and seasonality
• Direct trade relationships

This shifted the emphasis from quantity to quality and enabled coffee drinkers to better understand and appreciate where their coffee comes from and how it's produced.

Key Events in Specialty Coffee History

Some major milestones in specialty coffee history include:

• 1962 - Dutch coffee trader Alfred Peet opens Peet's Coffee in Berkeley, CA, introducing artisanal roasting and fresh, nutty dark roasts to American palates.
• 1966 - The first Starbucks opened in Seattle's Pike Place Market, inspired by Peet and selling quality whole bean coffees.
• 1970s - Green coffee importing companies like Royal Coffee and InterAmerican Coffee began building direct trade relationships with coffee farmers and estates.
• 1980s-90s - The Specialty Coffee Association of America formed to promote sustainably grown, high-quality specialty coffee in North America.
• The early 2000s - The third wave coffee movement takes off in the US, with a hyper-focus on coffee origins, light roasting, and manual brewing techniques like pour-over.

The Meaning and Value of Specialty Coffee

So what sets specialty coffee apart and makes it so meaningful? Some key characteristics include:

1. Quality and Complexity

Specialty coffees are held to higher quality standards, with nuanced flavors that reflect terroir, variety, and processing. They typically score 80+ on the 100-point Coffee Review scale.

2. Traceable Origins

Unlike commodity coffee, specialty coffee is traceable to the farm or cooperative level, so the origins and stories behind the coffee are known.

3. Sustainable Production

Sustainability practices like shade growing, conservation, and fair wages for farmers are a priority. Certifications like Fair Trade, organic, Rainforest Alliance, and Smithsonian Bird Friendly confirm this.

4. Freshness

Specialty coffee is seasonally harvested and time-sensitive. Roasters emphasize fresh crops and careful storage to maximize flavor.

5. Relationships and Ethics

Direct, ethical relationships throughout the coffee chain - from crop to cup - are fostered. This ensures fair pricing and support for farmers.

These core values make specialty coffee meaningful for producers, roasters, and consumers alike.

Sourcing: From Crop to Cup

The journey from seed to cup is an artisanal process that emphasizes quality and sustainability. Here are some key steps in specialty coffee's crop-to-cup journey:

Cultivation

Farms and cooperatives grow coffee varieties like Bourbon, Typica, Caturra, and Geisha on small, diverse plots. Quality-focused cultivation methods include:

• Shade growing under canopy trees
• Natural pest management
• Selective handpicking of ripe cherries
• Pruning and soil management

Processing

After harvest, the focus turns to removing the seed/bean from the cherry. This can be done via methods like:

• Wet/Washed - Pulp removed, then dried with parchment skin on.
• Natural - Dried with cherry skin, then hull removed.
• Honey - Pulp partially removed then dried.

Further steps like fermentation, washing, and drying influence flavor.

Exporting

Once processed, green (raw) coffee is exported in bags to roasters overseas. Specialty buyers sample coffees for cup quality and build relationships with growers.

Roasting

Roasters expertly roast green coffee beans to bring out aromas, sugars, and flavors without burning. Roast styles include light, medium, and dark.

Packaging

Packed in one-way degassing valves, specialty coffee is delivered fresh to cafes, stores, and consumers.

Brewing

Final preparation through methods like pour-over, French press, and espresso highlight distinct flavors.

Roasting for Flavor and Quality

Roasting is a complex art that delicately transforms green coffee into its consumable, aromatic form. Specialty roasters tailor roasts to highlight a coffee's inherent qualities.

Developing Flavor with Heat

Applying heat over roughly 8-12 minutes initiates chemical changes that develop a coffee's aromas, tastes, and textures. Sugar browning, Maillard reactions, and caramelization create flavor compounds.

Roast Styles and Flavor Profiles

Lighter roasts accentuate origin characteristics. Darker roasts bring out more roast character. Main roast styles include:

• Light - High acidity, distinct origin flavors.
• Medium - Balanced origin and roast notes.
• Dark - Smooth, chocolatey, roast-dominant.

Blend vs. Single Origin

While single origin highlights distinct regional characteristics, blends combine origins and roast levels for a specific flavor profile.

Brewing Methods

A variety of manual, artisanal brew methods can best showcase specialty coffee. Immersion and pour-over techniques are common.

Immersion Brewing

Steeping grounds in water, as in:

• French Press - Steeped then pressed through the metal filter.
• Aeropress - Steeped then forced through a paper filter.

Pour Over Brewing

Pouring water over grounds:

• V60 - Hot water is poured over the grounds in a ridged V60 dripper.
• Chemex - Spiral ridged paper filter brewer for clean cups.
• Kalita Wave - Flat bottom brewer with waved edges.

Espresso Drinks

Using an espresso machine, specialty coffee can produce shots for drinks like:

• Cappuccino
• Latte
• Americano
• Mocha

Specialty Coffee Culture and Community

Specialty Coffee has developed an expansive culture focused on quality, sustainability, community, and the entire coffee experience.

Coffeehouses

The modern coffeehouse provides a space to enjoy specialty coffee drinks, socialize, and connect. Some key features include:

• Skilled baristas
• Premium equipment like espresso machines
• Whole bean coffee sales
• Classes and tastings

Barista Competitions

Barista championships allow professional baristas to demonstrate their technical skills through timed espresso drinks, latte art, and signature beverages. This celebrates the craft behind specialty coffee.

Direct Trade Relationships

Through visiting farms and co-ops directly, roasters build connections with growers and transparency around coffee sources. This supports farmers through fair pricing and incentives for quality.

Sustainability Efforts

Organizations like World Coffee Research improve sustainability through initiatives like developing disease-resistant coffee varieties. Consumers increasingly want coffee that aligns with their values around factors like environmental impact and equitable labor practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies a coffee as "specialty"?

While definitions vary, specialty coffees typically score 80+ on a 100-point scale and exhibit traits like high quality, nuanced flavors, sustainability, traceable sourcing, and freshness.

How is specialty coffee roasted?

Specialty roasters carefully adjust variables like temperature, time, and heat application to bring out the best attributes of each coffee. Lighter roasts tend to be used to highlight the origin character.

What is a single origin vs. a blend?

Single-origin coffee comes from one specific farm, region, or crop. A blend combines different origins and/or roast levels to produce a certain flavor profile.

How much does specialty coffee cost?

Expect to pay around $15-22 per 12 oz bag for many specialty coffees. Prices vary based on factors like origins, processing, and wholesale bean prices.

What's the difference between specialty-grade and commercial-grade coffee?

Specialty coffee is sourced from top-scoring crops, tailored for flavor, and freshly roasted. Commercial/commodity-grade coffee is blended for consistency and often produced at a large scale prioritizing efficiency over quality.