{"id":11008,"date":"2021-03-17T08:11:47","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T08:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/?page_id=11008"},"modified":"2021-08-18T09:28:44","modified_gmt":"2021-08-18T09:28:44","slug":"specialty-coffee","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/coffee\/specialty-coffee\/","title":{"rendered":"Specialty Coffee"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span>The Definitive Guide To Specialty Coffee In 2021<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 20px;\">Specialty coffee is the highest-quality coffee you can buy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">What defines specialty coffee, and why is it so expensive?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">For several weeks I studied specialty coffee and talked with baristas and roasters. Then I collected all my knowledge in this article. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Now you don&#8217;t need to look all over the internet for information about specialty coffee\u2014you can find everything here.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">In this article you will learn what the term specialty coffee means and how a coffee receives the label, as well as how to properly store and prepare specialty coffee.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 20px;\">Let&#8217;s get started!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"\"><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11214\" width=\"571\" data-init-width=\"2293\" height=\"472\" data-init-height=\"1897\" title=\"Specialty Coffee Logo\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Specialty-Coffee-Logo.png\" data-width=\"571\" data-height=\"472\" style=\"\" ml-d=\"-22.8125\" ml-m=\"0\"><\/span><strong> #1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Before you start<\/strong>&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>What Is Specialty Coffee?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1791c618d81\" style=\"outline: none;\">Read the chapter<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11199\" width=\"422\" data-init-width=\"1668\" height=\"369\" data-init-height=\"1459\" title=\"What Is Specialty Coffee\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/What-Is-Specialty-Coffee.png\" data-width=\"422\" data-height=\"369\"><\/span><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11207\" width=\"110\" data-init-width=\"818\" height=\"268\" data-init-height=\"1988\" title=\"Specialty Coffee Grading\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Specialty-Coffee-Grading.png\" data-width=\"110\" data-height=\"268\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Specialty Coffee Grading<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1791c61e65e\" style=\"outline: none;\">Read the chapter<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong> #2<\/strong><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11210\" width=\"245\" data-init-width=\"1955\" height=\"233\" data-init-height=\"1859\" title=\"The Difference Between Normal Coffee and Specialty Coffee\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/The-Difference-Between-Normal-Coffee-and-Specialty-Coffee.png\" data-width=\"245\" data-height=\"233\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Normal Coffee vs Specialty Coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1791c625702\">Read the chapter<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;#3<\/strong><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11208\" width=\"126\" data-init-width=\"884\" height=\"267\" data-init-height=\"1875\" title=\"Buying Specialty Coffee\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Buying-Specialty-Coffee.png\" data-width=\"126\" data-height=\"267\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Buying Specialty Coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1791c62b1a7\" style=\"outline: none;\">Read the chapter<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;#4<\/strong><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11211\" width=\"238\" data-init-width=\"1880\" height=\"225\" data-init-height=\"1780\" title=\"Storing Specialty Coffee\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Storing-Specialty-Coffee.png\" data-width=\"238\" data-height=\"225\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Storing Specialty Coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1791c630b58\">Read the chapter<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;#5<\/strong><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11212\" width=\"250\" data-init-width=\"1818\" height=\"224\" data-init-height=\"1635\" title=\"Specialty Coffee Brewing\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Specialty-Coffee-Brewing.png\" data-width=\"250\" data-height=\"224\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Specialty Coffee Brewing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1791c635bfd\" style=\"outline: none;\">Read the chapter<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;#6<\/strong><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11218\" width=\"242\" data-init-width=\"1718\" height=\"225\" data-init-height=\"1601\" title=\"Other Varieties and Trends\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Other-Varieties-and-Trends.png\" data-width=\"242\" data-height=\"225\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Other Varieties and Trends<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1791c63b105\">Read the chapter<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;#7<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Chapter 1&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong><strong>What Is Specialty Coffee?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">Let&#8217;s talk about what specialty coffee is and what makes it so great.<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11243\" width=\"273\" data-init-width=\"1721\" height=\"255\" data-init-height=\"1605\" title=\"What Is Specialty Coffee chapter\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/What-Is-Specialty-Coffee-chapter.png\" data-width=\"273\" data-height=\"255\"><\/span><strong><span>Contents<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1785600a4d3\" style=\"outline: none;\"><span><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\">#1<\/span>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\">What Is Specialty Coffee?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-17855ffe6db\" style=\"outline: none;\"><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><span><span>#2<\/span>&nbsp;<\/span>Specialty Coffee Grading<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1785600de1c\" style=\"outline: none;\"><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><span><span><span>#3<\/span>&nbsp;<\/span><span>The Difference Between Normal Coffee and Specialty Coffee<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-17856014b08\" style=\"outline: none;\"><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><span><span><span><span>#4<\/span>&nbsp;<\/span><span>Buying Specialty Coffee<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-1785601804d\" style=\"outline: none;\"><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><span><span><span><span><span>#5<\/span>&nbsp;<\/span><span>Storing Specialty Coffee<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><a href=\"#tve-jump-178560242c9\" style=\"outline: none;\"><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><span><span><span><span><span><span>#6<\/span>&nbsp;<\/span><span>Specialty Coffee Brewing<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"#tve-jump-1785602786c\" style=\"outline: none;\"><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>#7<\/span>&nbsp;<\/span><span>Other Varieties and Trends<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">The beans are evaluated by certified tasters called Q Graders.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">There are three minimum requirements beans must meet to qualify as specialty coffee:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"\">\n<li style=\"\">Ripe coffee beans harvested by hand<\/li>\n<li style=\"\">Score 80 points or higher on the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.scaa.org\/?page=resources&amp;d=cupping-protocols&amp;mod=article_inline\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) scale<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sca.coffee\/research\/coffee-standards\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maximum of five Category 2 defects per 350 grams of beans<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11184\" width=\"801\" data-init-width=\"2942\" height=\"420\" data-init-height=\"1543\" title=\"Specialty coffee\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Specialty-coffee-2.png\" data-width=\"801\" data-height=\"420\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>There are two categories of defects: Category 1 (primary) and Category 2 (secondary).<\/p>\n<p>To be recognized as specialty coffee, green coffee must have no defects in the first category and no more than five defects in the second category.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll talk more about this in the section on coffee evaluation.<\/p>\n<h2>What Makes Specialty Coffee So Special?<\/h2>\n<p>Specialty coffee consists of the finest beans.<\/p>\n<p>These beans are grown at high altitudes, so they&#8217;re more acidic in taste but reveal their characteristics well and have floral and fruity notes.<\/p>\n<p>The more we know about beans, the better they&#8217;re likely to be.<\/p>\n<p>With specialty coffee, you can fully trace the beans&#8217; origin: not only the region in which they were grown but even the farmer that grew them and how he harvested and processed them.<\/p>\n<p>Why is it important to know this information?<\/p>\n<p>So you can choose the coffee that is most likely to suit you.<\/p>\n<p>Beans of the same variety can taste very different depending on where they are grown.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Special requirements are met at each stage of production:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Specialty coffee beans are grown in specific climatic conditions and harvested at the optimal time.<\/p>\n<p>They are quickly transported to the processing point after harvest so the coffee stays fresh and doesn&#8217;t lose any flavor potential.<\/p>\n<p>The beans are washed, peeled, and dried properly.<\/p>\n<p>The roaster then adjusts the roast profile to properly reveal the flavors of the specific beans.<\/p>\n<p>Lower-quality, non-specialty beans are often over-roasted to hide imperfections.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, the coffee tastes uniform and predictable.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the high quality of specialty coffee beans, different roast levels can be applied to unleash their full potential.<\/p>\n<p>Specialty coffee opens up a variety of flavors to explore.<\/p>\n<p>If the production process complies with grading rules and the beans receive <strong>a score of 80 points or higher, they count as specialty coffee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>When you buy specialty coffee, you pay a higher price to cover the entire production chain, from the challenging high-altitude harvest to the right barista preparation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Chapter 2&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong><strong>Specialty Coffee Grading<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">Who sets the standards for specialty coffee and how is it evaluated?<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">\n<p style=\"\">In this chapter, we will take a closer look at each step in the production of specialty coffee.<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11244\" width=\"273\" data-init-width=\"1722\" height=\"255\" data-init-height=\"1605\" title=\"Specialty Coffee Grading chapter\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Specialty-Coffee-Grading-chapter.png\" data-width=\"273\" data-height=\"255\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How Is Specialty Coffee Graded?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">The term specialty coffee is awarded not for an entire variety, but for a specific lot of that variety.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">This coffee <strong>must be from one crop year, one processing batch, and one farm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">The coffee is judged based on a visual inspection of the green coffee beans before roasting and on cupping after roasting.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"\">Green Coffee Grading&nbsp;<\/h3>\n<p style=\"\">To determine coffee quality, 350 grams of green coffee beans are visually inspected and defective beans are noted.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Bean Defects<\/h3>\n<p style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1)  !important; --tcb-applied-color:  var$(--tcb-color-1)  !important;\"><strong>Primary<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Secondary<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Foreign objects<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Unripe beans<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Black beans<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Shriveled beans<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Fungus on beans<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Cut and split beans<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Mold<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Damaged by insects<\/p>\n<p>Defects can be Category 1 (primary) or Category 2 (secondary).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Category 1<\/strong> defects include foreign objects, black or sour beans, and beans damaged by fungus, mold, or insects.<\/p>\n<p>Sour beans are identified by their appearance: they will be brownish-red in places.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Category 2<\/strong> defects include unripe beans and shriveled, cut, or split beans.<\/p>\n<p>Specialty coffee must have no primary defects and can have a maximum of five secondary&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/defects.az\/\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">defects.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Cupping Grading<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This is the evaluation of coffee during the cupping (tasting) process.<\/p>\n<p>The coffee beans are roasted, ground, and then brewed with hot water for 3-5 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>This versatile method allows you to fully reveal the beans&#8217; taste and aroma.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: var(--tcb-color-7)  !important; --tcb-applied-color:  var$(--tcb-color-7)  !important;\"><strong>Cupping Grading<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11017\" width=\"250\" data-init-width=\"1251\" height=\"251\" data-init-height=\"1251\" title=\"Roasting beans\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Roasting-beans.png\" data-width=\"250\" data-height=\"251\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>1. Roasting beans<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11019\" width=\"144\" data-init-width=\"1012\" height=\"249\" data-init-height=\"1753\" title=\"grinding beans\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/grinding-beans.png\" data-width=\"144\" data-height=\"249\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>2. Grinding beans<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11021\" width=\"203\" data-init-width=\"1183\" height=\"251\" data-init-height=\"1460\" title=\"brewing with hot water\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/brewing-with-hot-water.png\" data-width=\"203\" data-height=\"251\" style=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>3. Brewing with hot water<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11128\" width=\"227\" data-init-width=\"1269\" height=\"217\" data-init-height=\"1212\" title=\"Waiting 3-5 minutes minutes\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Waiting-3-5-minutes-minutes.png\" data-width=\"227\" data-height=\"217\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>4. Waiting&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>3-5 minutes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11023\" width=\"157\" data-init-width=\"1072\" height=\"219\" data-init-height=\"1491\" title=\"cupping\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/cupping.png\" data-width=\"157\" data-height=\"219\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>5. Cupping<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Other brewing methods are not suitable for cupping, as they reveal the taste in different ways.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Q Graders&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.scaa.org\/PDF\/resources\/cupping-protocols.pdf\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">measure acidity, body, flavor, aroma, aftertaste, balance, uniformity, the &#8220;\u0441lean \u0441up&#8221; attribute, sweetness, defects, and an &#8220;overall&#8221; scoring aspect.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Who Sets the Standards for Specialty Coffee?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">There are multiple non-profit organizations that aim to expand the specialty coffee community, continually improve specialty coffee&#8217;s quality, support farmers, and create supply paths that don&#8217;t include unnecessary middlemen.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 25px;\">Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">This is a non-profit trade organization that emerged from the merger of the American and European SCAs. It includes coffee professionals from all over the world. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Its members, from producers to baristas, are involved in the creation of specialty coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">The goal of the association is to develop the global coffee community. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Its activities are aimed at making specialty coffee production prosperous and fair for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 25px;\">Coffee Quality Institute<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">This non-profit organization works to improve the quality of coffee and the lives of the people involved in coffee production. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">It helps manufacturers create a simple supply chain so that everyone gets a fair price for their work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 25px;\">World Coffee Research (WCR)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">WCR conducts research and development to reduce the impact of negative climatic conditions, low yields, and bean diseases on coffee growers. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">The organization also works on the genetic improvement of coffee and the development of new varieties.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">The organization strives to improve the standard of living of coffee producers, as coffee&#8217;s quality depends on them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The Specialty Coffee Journey Explained: From Bean to Cup<\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">Beans have a long journey before you can brew them to get a quality cup of coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">At every stage there are people whose main goal is to produce a great product.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">They spend their time and energy to create specialty coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: var(--tcb-color-7)  !important; --tcb-applied-color:  var$(--tcb-color-7)  !important;\"><strong>The Specialty Coffee Journey from Bean to Cup<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11079\" width=\"139\" data-init-width=\"1114\" height=\"184\" data-init-height=\"1472\" title=\"The Coffee Farmer\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/The-Coffee-Farmer.png\" data-width=\"139\" data-height=\"184\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Coffee Farmer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Grows beans<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Focuses on quality over quantity<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11080\" width=\"137\" data-init-width=\"1049\" height=\"184\" data-init-height=\"1404\" title=\"The Green Coffee Buyer\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/The-Green-Coffee-Buyer.png\" data-width=\"137\" data-height=\"184\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Green Coffee Buyer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; Conducts capping<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; Selects the best varieties<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11081\" width=\"130\" data-init-width=\"978\" height=\"184\" data-init-height=\"1388\" title=\"The Roaster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/The-Roaster.png\" data-width=\"130\" data-height=\"184\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Roaster<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; Selects the roasting profile<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; <span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Reveals the unique flavor of the beans<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11082\" width=\"173\" data-init-width=\"1226\" height=\"200\" data-init-height=\"1417\" title=\"The Barista\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/The-Barista.png\" data-width=\"173\" data-height=\"200\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Barista<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; Knows about the origin of beans<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; &nbsp;Knows how to properly work with brewing equipment<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; Reveals the flavor of the beans during cooking<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11083\" width=\"217\" data-init-width=\"1266\" height=\"236\" data-init-height=\"1375\" title=\"The Consumer\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/The-Consumer.png\" data-width=\"217\" data-height=\"236\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Consumer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; Buys specialty coffee<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; Enjoying a cup of coffee<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">&#8211; Contributes to the life of the coffee community<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Chapter 3&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong><strong>The Difference Between Normal Coffee and Specialty Coffee<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">To understand why specialty coffee is so unique, you have to compare it to regular commercial coffee.<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11249\" width=\"292\" data-init-width=\"966\" height=\"308\" data-init-height=\"1019\" title=\"The Difference Between Normal Coffee and Specialty Coffee chapter\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/The-Difference-Between-Normal-Coffee-and-Specialty-Coffee-chapter.png\" data-width=\"292\" data-height=\"308\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Specialty Coffee vs. Commercial Coffee<\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">Commercial coffee is most often roasted and packaged in the large factories of well-known brands.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Specialty coffee is usually roasted and packaged in small batches at small roasters or coffee shops.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">But the differences between them are much deeper than it might seem at first glance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: var(--tcb-color-7)  !important; --tcb-applied-color:  var$(--tcb-color-7)  !important;\"><strong>Specialty Coffee vs. Commercial Coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Specialty Coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Commercial Coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Harvested by hand and further sorted to remove defects<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Harvested by machine<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Can be traced back to the growing farm<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Beans are bought from all over the world; the source is impossible to track<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Roasted in small batches by small local roasters or coffee shops<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Roasted in large batches by large enterprises<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Single-origin Arabica beans<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Lower-grade Arabica beans; Robusta; blends<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Bright, rich taste<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Uniform taste<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11566\" width=\"137\" data-init-width=\"348\" height=\"199\" data-init-height=\"505\" title=\"Caffeine Content\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Caffeine-Content.png\" data-width=\"137\" data-height=\"199\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 23px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\">Quality<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">This is the main difference between specialty and commercial coffee.<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p tve-droppable\"\"=\"\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Special attention is paid to the cultivation and harvesting of specialty coffee. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Such coffee is grown in places with certain climatic conditions at a particular time of the year, is harvested by hand, and is sorted to remove defective beans.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Each lot of specialty coffee is approached individually. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">A roasting profile is selected for each individual lot in order to reveal all the features of taste and to find a balance between acidity and natural sweetness. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Properly roasted coffee reflects the characteristics of the place where it was grown.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">You can trace the origins of specialty coffee not just to its country of origin but also to a specific farm.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Commercial coffee is made from lower-quality beans. It is intended for general sale. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">It is impossible to trace commercial coffee&#8217;s origins because beans are bought from all over the world and made into blends.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Not all commercial coffee is necessarily made from low-quality beans. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Commercial coffee can be good for its average price. It is used by large coffee chains and well-known brands.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Commercial coffee can even be made from beans that are grown to be specialty but that for some reason have not received a grade of 80 or higher.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11565\" width=\"173\" data-init-width=\"460\" height=\"236\" data-init-height=\"628\" title=\"Coffee taste cup\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Coffee-taste-cup.png\" data-width=\"173\" data-height=\"236\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 23px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\">Taste<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Specialty coffee has a acidic taste due to being grown at higher elevations. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">At the same time, it reveals floral, honey, fruit, and berry notes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">To open these notes, the beans are light- or medium-roasted.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Commercial coffee tastes more uniform. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">More often than not, it is dark-roasted to hide taste defects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11564\" width=\"173\" data-init-width=\"353\" height=\"215\" data-init-height=\"438\" title=\"Elevation\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Elevation.png\" data-width=\"173\" data-height=\"215\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 23px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\">Elevation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Specialty coffee is grown at high elevations of at least 3280 feet above sea level. For optimal maturation, the coffee should be shade-grown.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11561\" width=\"192\" data-init-width=\"443\" height=\"176\" data-init-height=\"406\" title=\"Harvesting\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Harvesting.png\" data-width=\"192\" data-height=\"176\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 23px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\">Caffeine Content<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">It&#8217;s impossible to say for sure whether specialty or commercial coffee contains more caffeine, or whether they&#8217;re equal in this regard.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-7); font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scienceofcooking.com\/caffeine-in-coffee-beans.html\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The amount of caffeine in beans is influenced by variety, roast, and brewing method.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">If you are looking for coffee with a high caffeine content, you should know that&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-7); font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Coffea_canephora\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Robusta has almost twice as much as Arabica<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-7); font-size: 16px;\"><\/span><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">And light-roasted coffee contains more caffeine in beans than dark-roasted coffee if you measure them with a scoop because light-roasted beans are denser than dark roasts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11562\" width=\"165\" data-init-width=\"335\" height=\"249\" data-init-height=\"506\" title=\"Quality\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Quality.png\" data-width=\"165\" data-height=\"249\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 23px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\">Harvesting<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Commercial coffee is harvested using a machine method and sometimes a manual method. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">The goal is to harvest as many beans as possible in the shortest possible time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">The quality of the coffee cherries is low: both under-ripe and over-ripe cherries end up in the harvest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Specialty coffee always harvested by hand. This ensures that lots contain only high-quality coffee. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Specially trained harvesters pick only ripe coffee cherries. They leave unripe cherries to continue growing and remove bad cherries so the coffee tree won&#8217;t be harmed. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Some farmers then re-sort the harvested beans by hand to remove any unsuitable ones.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Coffee beans that are not suitable for specialty coffee are sold to commercial brands.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11560\" width=\"183\" data-init-width=\"422\" height=\"205\" data-init-height=\"473\" title=\"Purity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Purity.png\" data-width=\"183\" data-height=\"205\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 23px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\">Purity<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Organic coffee grows on land that hasn&#8217;t had chemicals used on it for 5-10 years. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Also, the trees aren&#8217;t treated with chemicals or pesticides.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">This coffee is grown in high-altitude areas in the shade of taller trees to ensure slow maturation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">It is harvested by hand and dried in the sun.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">It&#8217;s easy for specialty coffee to receive an organic certification; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">it&#8217;s much harder for commercial coffee to be certified organic, due to the less-strict cultivation and production requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11559\" width=\"192\" data-init-width=\"436\" height=\"144\" data-init-height=\"327\" title=\"Type of Bean\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Type-of-Bean.png\" data-width=\"192\" data-height=\"144\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 23px;\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\"><span data-reactroot=\"\" data-token-index=\"0\">Type of Bean<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Only single-origin Arabica beans are recognized as specialty coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Commercial coffee not only uses lower-grade Arabica beans but also mixes beans from multiple sources. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Robusta beans are often added to commercial blends, but this does not mean that such coffee isn&#8217;t worth buying. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 16px;\">Robusta is used for flavor purposes; it contains more caffeine than Arabica and gives coffee drinks a characteristic bitterness, so it&#8217;s often added to espresso blends.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Chapter 4&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong><strong>Buying Specialty Coffee<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">Choosing a package labeled &#8220;specialty coffee&#8221; doesn&#8217;t ensure that you&#8217;ll get the highest-quality coffee or the coffee that best matches your tastes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">\n<p style=\"\">Pay attention to this list of attributes and you&#8217;ll be able to choose the best coffee next time you&#8217;re at a coffee shop, roaster, or store.<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11242\" width=\"292\" data-init-width=\"1531\" height=\"293\" data-init-height=\"1537\" title=\"Buying Specialty Coffee chapter\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Buying-Specialty-Coffee-chapter.png\" data-width=\"292\" data-height=\"293\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Region<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>The region where beans are cultivated gives an idea of the coffee&#8217;s taste.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Coffee from Central America is characterized by a bright, clear taste and pronounced acidity.<\/p>\n<p>Coffee from South America can have fruity, earthy, nutty, or other types of notes.<\/p>\n<p>If you prefer fruity notes and high acidity, choose beans from Ecuador.<\/p>\n<p>If you prefer floral, citrus, and chocolate notes and fresh acidity, choose beans from Colombia.<\/p>\n<p>If you want a wide range of flavors but less acidity, choose beans from Brazil.<\/p>\n<p>In Asia, coffee from Thailand can be distinguished by its medium acidity and notes of spices and flowers.<\/p>\n<p>In the Pacific region, coffee from Sumatra and Indonesia can be distinguished by its acidity and spiced, forest-like notes.<\/p>\n<p>Kenya and Ethiopia&#8217;s beans are the most popular out of all African coffees. These beans have notes of flowers, a delicate sweetness, and a mild acidity.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Try different beans and find the region that suits you best.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Processing Method<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The taste of coffee depends on how the beans are processed.<\/p>\n<p>Each of the three methods detailed below affects the taste of coffee differently.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trianoncoffee.com\/blogs\/news\/how-is-honey-processed-coffee-different-from-washed-or-natural\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Natural Process<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">This is also called the dry process or the unwashed process. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">First, coffee cherries are sun-dried for several weeks. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">After that, the beans are separated from the cherries by hand or with a special machine. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">They are then dried again to achieve a moisture level that allows them to be safely stored and transported.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">This method gives the coffee an exotic fruity flavor, a pleasant sweetness, and a low acidity. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">The aroma of a cup of coffee made from naturally processed beans will be rich and bright.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trianoncoffee.com\/blogs\/news\/how-is-honey-processed-coffee-different-from-washed-or-natural\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Washed Process<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">This is also called the wet process. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">First, the coffee cherries are immersed in water to separate ripe cherries, which sink, from unripe cherries, which float. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">Then the ripe cherries go to a washing station, where they are washed with such force that the beans are separated from the cherries. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">The beans are then dried to the desired moisture level.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">The taste of coffee processed this way is not as pronounced as the taste of coffee that goes through the natural process. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">A drink made from these beans will have a high acidity and a clear aroma.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trianoncoffee.com\/blogs\/news\/how-is-honey-processed-coffee-different-from-washed-or-natural\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Honey Process<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">This is a cross between the two previous methods. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">The coffee cherries are soaked and then de-pulped, but the sticky part of the cherry fruit remains on the beans rather than being washed off. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">The beans are then sun-dried for several days.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"\">As a result of this treatment, coffee brewed with these beans has a sweet taste and medium acidity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Variety<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Coffee varieties are genetic subspecies.<\/p>\n<p>They are more important to farmers than to buyers.<\/p>\n<p>The taste of the varieties of a species is almost the same.<\/p>\n<p>But when planted and grown in specific climatic conditions, varieties of coffee trees behave differently: they may be less susceptible to certain diseases or produce more coffee fruit.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Good growing conditions and proper roasting create aromatic coffee.<\/p>\n<p>In a finished drink, you can taste notes of things like sweet honey, spices, fruits, flowers, berries, and chocolate.<\/p>\n<p>For specialty coffee, a flavor profile is more than just a label on the packaging.<\/p>\n<p>You can really taste specific notes in your cup when the coffee is prepared properly.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Roast Date<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Coffee beans&#8217; freshness peaks in the first two to three weeks after roasting.<\/p>\n<p>Buy coffee that has the roast date on the packaging because this shows that the manufacturer is focused on the high quality of the product.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What About Blends?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Blends are used to complement single-origin coffee with new flavors and aromas.<\/p>\n<p>They allow you to make a cup of coffee that&#8217;s softer and more balanced.<\/p>\n<p>They smooth out the wild taste of single-origin beans.<\/p>\n<p>If you are into more traditional coffee, blends are the best choice.<\/p>\n<p>Roasters usually offer two or three blends and several single-origin coffees.<\/p>\n<h2>Where to Buy Specialty Coffee<\/h2>\n<p>You won&#8217;t find specialty coffee in a regular grocery store.<\/p>\n<p>Specialty coffee&#8217;s unique flavors, higher cost, and short freshness period make it hard to sell to large masses of consumers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Where to Buy Specialty Coffee<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11089\" width=\"203\" data-init-width=\"1272\" height=\"229\" data-init-height=\"1435\" title=\"Cafe1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cafe1.png\" data-width=\"203\" data-height=\"229\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Cafes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11090\" width=\"232\" data-init-width=\"1433\" height=\"228\" data-init-height=\"1405\" title=\"Direct From Roaster\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Direct-From-Roaster.png\" data-width=\"232\" data-height=\"228\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Direct From Roaster<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"\"><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11091\" width=\"247\" data-init-width=\"1755\" height=\"184\" data-init-height=\"1309\" title=\"Online\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Online.png\" data-width=\"247\" data-height=\"184\" style=\"margin-left: -1.979156494140625px;\" ml-d=\"-1.979156494140625\" mt-d=\"0\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Online<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Here&#8217;s where you can buy specialty coffee:<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"\">Caf\u00e9s<\/h4>\n<p style=\"\">Specialty coffee can be enjoyed at coffee shops, especially ones that are affiliated with local roasters.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Trained baristas can prepare the drink in a variety of ways: in an espresso machine, in a pour-over coffee maker like a Chemex, in an AeroPress, in a French press, or in a cold-brew coffee maker.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Specialty coffee is usually served pure, without cream, milk, or syrups.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"\">Roasters<\/h4>\n<p style=\"\">You can buy freshly roasted beans directly from a roaster.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">The people who roast specialty coffee love what they do and will gladly guide you through the varieties, roast levels, and flavor profiles they have on hand.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"\">Online<\/h4>\n<p style=\"\">If your city doesn&#8217;t have a local roaster, you can order beans online.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Many roasters have websites that accept orders for shipping.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">You can familiarize yourself with their assortment, read about the varieties and origins of the beans, and choose the appropriate roast and flavor profile.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">After ordering, the coffee will be roasted and sent to you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Chapter 5&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong><strong>Storing Specialty Coffee<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">After roasting, coffee loses its freshness very quickly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">\n<p style=\"\">To get the most out of your specialty coffee, it must be stored properly.<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11245\" width=\"292\" data-init-width=\"1722\" height=\"272\" data-init-height=\"1605\" title=\"Storing Specialty Coffee chapter\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Storing-Specialty-Coffee-chapter.png\" data-width=\"292\" data-height=\"272\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How Long Does It Last?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">From the moment the coffee is roasted, <a href=\"http:\/\/morphcoffee.com\/2018\/06\/20\/how-to-spot-stale-coffee-in-10-seconds\/#\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">no more than three to four weeks should pass before you use the beans<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">During this period, the beans are at their freshest.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Then they begin to lose their unique characteristics.<\/p>\n<h3>How to Tell If Your Coffee Is Too Old<\/h3>\n<p style=\"\">With prolonged or improper storage, coffee not only loses its freshness but can also deteriorate.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.eatbydate.com\/drinks\/coffee-tea-shelf-life\/coffee-shelf-life-expiration-date\/\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brewing coffee from old beans won&#8217;t hurt you<\/a>, but you definitely won&#8217;t be able to appreciate the whole range of flavor.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 25px;\">Taste<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Coffee made from old beans won&#8217;t have a strong flavor or delight you with an invigorating effect. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">The coffee will be watery and will have only a faint aroma.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><strong>Smell<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Spoiled coffee has a faint smell with rancid notes of stale coffee oil.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 25px;\">Appearance<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">If the beans are too dark in color and are very dry, with no coffee oils on the surface, they&#8217;re hopelessly spoiled. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">It&#8217;s worth tossing them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 25px;\">Residue<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">When you pick up a handful of fresh beans, there will be some coffee oils left on your hands. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">If no oils are left behind, your coffee is probably too old.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 25px;\">The Bag<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">When buying coffee, pay attention to the packaging and the roast date. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">When packaged in regular paper bags, coffee stays fresh for just a week. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Foil bags with a one-way gas release valve help keep the beans at their peak flavor for about a month after roasting.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How to Keep Specialty Coffee Fresh Longer<\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">When buying specialty coffee, you probably want to enjoy as many cups as possible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">To ensure your coffee lasts long enough, you must store it properly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How to Keep Specialty Coffee Fresh Longer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11114\" width=\"136\" data-init-width=\"829\" height=\"206\" data-init-height=\"1255\" title=\"Buy Your Coffee As Fresh As Possible\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Buy-Your-Coffee-As-Fresh-As-Possible.png\" data-width=\"136\" data-height=\"206\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Buy Your Coffee as Fresh as Possible<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"\"><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11115\" width=\"179\" data-init-width=\"890\" height=\"149\" data-init-height=\"743\" title=\"Ensure You Buy Specialty Coffee As A Whole Bean\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ensure-You-Buy-Specialty-Coffee-As-A-Whole-Bean.png\" data-width=\"179\" data-height=\"149\" style=\"\" mt-d=\"0\" ml-d=\"-1.76470947265625\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Ensure You Buy Whole-Bean Coffee<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11116\" width=\"237\" data-init-width=\"1985\" height=\"203\" data-init-height=\"1694\" title=\"Only Grind Your Beans When You Need To\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Only-Grind-Your-Beans-When-You-Need-To.png\" data-width=\"237\" data-height=\"203\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Only Grind Your Beans When You Need To<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11118\" width=\"287\" data-init-width=\"2044\" height=\"137\" data-init-height=\"980\" title=\"Buy Less, More Frequently\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Buy-Less-More-Frequently.png\" data-width=\"287\" data-height=\"137\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Buy Less, More Frequently<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11119\" width=\"212\" data-init-width=\"1245\" height=\"201\" data-init-height=\"1180\" title=\"Do Not Store In Fridge Or Exposed To Moisture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Do-Not-Store-In-Fridge-Or-Exposed-To-Moisture.png\" data-width=\"212\" data-height=\"201\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Don&#8217;t Store in Fridge or Expose to Moisture<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"\">Buy Your Coffee as Fresh as Possible<\/h4>\n<p style=\"\">Buying freshly roasted coffee is a good way to enjoy your drink at its peak because it will last for a few weeks.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">You can pick up beans from local roasters or specialized coffee shops on the day of roasting.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"\">Ensure You Buy Whole-Bean Coffee<\/h4>\n<p style=\"\">Coffee beans are a good vessel in and of themselves to retain aromas and flavors that are later revealed in your morning cup of joe.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Ground coffee stays fresh for only 15-30 minutes, while whole-bean coffee stays fresh for weeks.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Whole beans have another advantage: you can grind them for any brewing method.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">For the best taste, each method requires a certain grind size.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"\">Only Grind Your Beans When You Need To<\/h4>\n<p style=\"\">Freshly ground beans open up better when brewed, and their essential oils don&#8217;t evaporate immediately.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Coffee made with freshly ground beans will be more intense and flavorful.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Opening a pack of beans, weighing out the right amount, grinding the beans while inhaling their aroma, then brewing the beans is a ceremony that will enhance your enjoyment of each cup.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"\">Buy Less, More Frequently<\/h4>\n<p style=\"\">Even with proper storage, beans will begin to lose their flavor within a month.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">If you buy large bags of coffee, you increase your chances of brewing a stale drink.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">It&#8217;s best to only buy as much as you can use up in one to two weeks.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"\">Don&#8217;t Store in Fridge or Expose to Moisture<\/h4>\n<p style=\"\">You shouldn&#8217;t store beans in the refrigerator because two main enemies of coffee\u2014temperature changes and foreign smells\u2014reside there.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">When the fridge doors are opened, condensation forms on the coffee and excess moisture gets in, which can make your coffee go bad.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Also, coffee absorbs odors very quickly, and fridge aromas are not what you want to notice in your drink, right?<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Chapter 6&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong><strong>Specialty Coffee Brewing<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">It&#8217;s important to prepare your specialty coffee properly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">\n<p style=\"\">Brewing errors can result in a loss of flavor.<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11246\" width=\"234\" data-init-width=\"1164\" height=\"351\" data-init-height=\"1745\" title=\"Specialty Coffee Brewing chapter\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Specialty-Coffee-Brewing-chapter.png\" data-width=\"234\" data-height=\"351\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Brewing Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11121\" width=\"174\" data-init-width=\"1697\" height=\"215\" data-init-height=\"2089\" title=\"Use AeroPress, Chemex, Hario or Cold brew\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Use-AeroPress-Chemex-Hario-or-Cold-brew.png\" data-width=\"174\" data-height=\"215\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Use AeroPress, Chemex, Hario or cold brew<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11122\" width=\"249\" data-init-width=\"2021\" height=\"216\" data-init-height=\"1756\" title=\"Observe the exact dosage\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Observe-the-exact-dosage.png\" data-width=\"249\" data-height=\"216\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Observe the exact dosage<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11123\" width=\"75\" data-init-width=\"510\" height=\"209\" data-init-height=\"1419\" title=\"Grind the amount of beans you are going to use\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Grind-the-amount-of-beans-you-are-going-to-use.png\" data-width=\"75\" data-height=\"209\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Grind the amount of beans you are going to use<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Specialty coffee best reveals its flavor nuances when prepared with alternative brewing methods like an AeroPress, a Chemex or Hario pour-over coffee maker, or a cold-brew coffee maker.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Use a scale when preparing coffee. This will help you maintain precise dosages and better control the flavor of your drink.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">And to avoid waste and spoiled coffee, grind only the amount of beans you intend to use.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>FEATURED RESOURCE<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">How To Make Coffee<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The only guide you&#8217;ll need to brew the best coffee in 2021<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"how to make coffee, the complete guide\" data-id=\"9715\" width=\"455\" data-init-width=\"4384\" height=\"233\" data-init-height=\"2251\" title=\"how to make coffee, the complete guide\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/how-to-make-coffee.png\" data-width=\"455\" data-height=\"233\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Chapter 7&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong><strong>Other Varieties and Trends<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">Coffee culture is thriving, coffee shops are booming, and people are becoming more selective. <\/p>\n<p style=\"\">\n<p style=\"\">Your experience with specialty coffee may go beyond what we&#8217;ve described above.<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11247\" width=\"253\" data-init-width=\"1193\" height=\"319\" data-init-height=\"1501\" title=\"Other Varieties and Trends chapter\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Other-Varieties-and-Trends-chapter.png\" data-width=\"253\" data-height=\"319\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Decaf Specialty Coffee<\/h3>\n<p style=\"\">Decaffeinated coffee has long had a reputation for being tasteless.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Many early decaffeinating methods removed both caffeine and flavor elements.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">But now, opting for decaffeinated coffee now doesn&#8217;t mean giving up the taste of coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">This is great news for those who are overly sensitive to caffeine or who prefer to avoid its stimulating effects.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">For specialty coffee, the issue of maintaining the beans&#8217; flavor profile is particularly acute.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Finding high-quality decaffeinated coffee is a little trickier than finding high-quality regular coffee, but there are options.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">If you choose a product made from quality beans, from which the caffeine is extracted without the use of solvents, you can get excellent coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1)  !important; --tcb-applied-color:  var$(--tcb-color-1)  !important;\">To ensure that decaf specialty coffee doesn&#8217;t disappoint, look for packages marked &#8220;<strong>Swiss Water Process<\/strong>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1)  !important; --tcb-applied-color:  var$(--tcb-color-1)  !important;\">This process is certified organic, removes caffeine from the beans without the use of chemicals, and retains the coffee&#8217;s original flavor characteristics.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Due to the higher production cost of Swiss Water Process decaf coffee, the price is higher, but it&#8217;s worth it.<\/p>\n<h3>Specialty Instant Coffee<\/h3>\n<p style=\"\">Instant coffee is rarely mentioned when talking about specialty coffee, but such a product exists and has some advantages.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">You may not always have access to a good grinder and coffee maker.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">In such a situation, instant coffee can come to the rescue.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">It&#8217;s convenient to use while on the road, while hiking or camping, or when staying at a hotel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Previously, speed and convenience were never combined with great flavor.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Specialty instant coffee solved this problem.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">However, its price can be several times higher than that of regular instant coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Freeze-drying technology is used to create specialty instant coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Pre-brewed coffee is frozen, then dried using a vacuum.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">This method preserves the unique characteristics of the beans.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">There is also a spray-drying method during which brewed coffee is sprayed into hot air and becomes a powder.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">This process has a lower cost than freeze-drying, but at the expense of quality: it removes aromatics from the coffee.<\/p>\n<h3>The Latest Specialty Coffee Trends<\/h3>\n<p style=\"\">Let&#8217;s take a look at the latest trends so you know how to expand your coffee experience.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1); font-size: 25px;\">Coffee Box Subscriptions<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Drinking coffee made from freshly roasted beans of the highest quality is possible with subscriptions from roasters. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">If you&#8217;ve already found what you like, you can get the right amount of beans every month, delivered straight to your home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">By using a coffee box subscription service, you can be sure that you are receiving freshly roasted, delicious beans. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Also, you don&#8217;t have to monitor your stock of coffee\u2014the right amount will arrive at your doorstep.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 25px;\">Nitro Cold Brew<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">This is cold brew coffee infused with nitrous and served through a keg tap in coffee shops.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">It resembles draft beer with a velvety foam. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">You can also buy a canned version.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">First, the coffee is cold brewed for 12-24 hours, then it&#8217;s infused with nitrous.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">This brewing method enhances the natural sweetness of the beans and reduces the coffee&#8217;s acidity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 25px;\">Sustainably-Grown Beans<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Consumers are beginning to wonder where and how their coffee is grown. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">They often prefer a product that can be traced back to a specific farm.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Organic coffee is grown without the use of pesticides or chemicals and is labeled&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncausa.org\/About-Coffee\/Organic-Coffee\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;USDA Organic&#8221;<\/a>&nbsp;in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Organic coffee cultivation revolves around respect for the environment. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">Farmers are in harmony with the ecosystem and help to preserve forests while growing coffee. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var(--tcb-color-1);\">This can protect rare birds and butterflies. There is even such a thing as <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalzoo.si.edu\/migratory-birds\/about-bird-friendly-coffee\" style=\"outline: none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bird Friendly<\/a> certified coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Ways to Grow Your Specialty Coffee Knowledge<\/h3>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11569\" width=\"245\" data-init-width=\"867\" height=\"169\" data-init-height=\"600\" title=\"Read coffee blogs and magazines, and listen to podcasts\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Read-coffee-blogs-and-magazines-and-listen-to-podcasts.png\" data-width=\"245\" data-height=\"169\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read coffee blogs and magazines, and listen to podcasts.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">You will learn not only about how specialty coffee is grown and produced, but also about different ways of brewing it at home, about coffee equipment, and much more.<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11570\" width=\"245\" data-init-width=\"867\" height=\"169\" data-init-height=\"600\" title=\"Ask baristas at specialty coffee shops\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ask-baristas-at-specialty-coffee-shops.png\" data-width=\"245\" data-height=\"169\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Ask baristas at specialty coffee shops.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Baristas devote a lot of their time to coffee and are ready to share their knowledge with anyone who&#8217;s interested in a quality drink. <\/p>\n<p style=\"\">\n<p style=\"\">They&#8217;ll tell you a lot of interesting things not only about brewing, but also about countries where coffee is cultivated, the varieties of beans, and how beans are processed.<\/p>\n<p><span><img alt=\"\" data-id=\"11571\" width=\"237\" data-init-width=\"835\" height=\"171\" data-init-height=\"600\" title=\"Attend coffee tastings, festivals, workshops, and trainings\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Attend-coffee-tastings-festivals-workshops-and-trainings.png\" data-width=\"237\" data-height=\"171\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Attend coffee tastings, festivals, workshops, and trainings.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">You can read all you want about the flavor notes of beans from different regions and how they unfold with different brewing methods, but it&#8217;s best to gain this knowledge through experience.<\/p>\n<h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>What is specialty coffee?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Specialty coffee consists of beans of the highest grade, which have been approached with particular care at all stages of production: on the farm and during processing, transportation, and roasting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Thanks to this approach, the coffee will have clear flavors and an outstanding taste.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Only single-origin Arabica beans that score 80 or more points on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scaa.org\/?page=resources&amp;d=cupping-protocols&amp;mod=article_inline\" style=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SCAA scale<\/a>can be recognized as specialty coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>What makes specialty coffee so special?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">What makes it special is the approach to production, which is based on ethical principles, high quality and the desire to improve the coffee community.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">With this approach, you can enjoy a variety of flavors depending on country of cultivation, processing methods, and roasting profiles.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>What&#8217;s the difference between specialty coffee and commercial coffee?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Only single-origin Arabica beans become specialty coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Commercial coffee uses both lower-grade Arabica beans and Robusta beans, and sometimes creates blends.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>How do you prepare specialty coffee?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Specialty beans&#8217; flavors are best revealed when using alternative brewing methods: AeroPress, pour-over, or cold brew.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Grinding the beans just before brewing and using the correct dosage will help you enjoy a delicious cup of specialty coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Where can you buy specialty coffee?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">You can buy it at specialized coffee shops, from local roasters, or online from roasters&#8217; websites.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>How can you keep specialty coffee fresh longer?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Buy freshly roasted whole beans and grind just before brewing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Don&#8217;t buy coffee in large packages\u2014only buy the amount you can use in a few weeks.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Store your coffee beans in sealed containers in a dry, dark place.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>What is the Specialty Coffee Association?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">The SCA is a non-profit trade organization that emerged from the merger of the American and European Specialty Coffee Associations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">The goal of the association is to develop the global coffee community.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">It works to make specialty coffee prosperous and fair for everyone involved in production.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Why is specialty coffee so expensive?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">Because its production costs are higher than those of commercial coffee.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">When you buy specialty coffee, you pay for the highest-quality product that&#8217;s shade-grown high above sea level, hand-harvested at a specific time, processed and roasted correctly, and brewed well.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\"><strong>Is all specialty coffee organic?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"\">No\u2014specialty coffee packaging does not indicate specific farming methods.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">But it can be organic if grown by traditional methods without the use of chemicals and pesticides.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">A USDA Organic label indicates that the coffee is cultivated with the environment in mind.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p style=\"\">Specialty coffee is made from the finest-quality beans, which reveal bright notes in your cup.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">The high price of such coffee accounts for the entire production chain\u2014a chain that means you can enjoy subtleties of taste and get the best product.<\/p>\n<p style=\"\">The experience that specialty coffee provides is well worth the price.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Definitive Guide To Specialty Coffee In 2021 Specialty coffee is the highest-quality coffee you can buy. What defines specialty coffee, and why is it so expensive? For several weeks I studied specialty coffee and talked with baristas and roasters. Then I collected all my knowledge in this article. Now you don&#8217;t need to look [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":11214,"parent":9284,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11008"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11008"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11008\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urbanbeancoffee.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}