Did you know? Speciality coffee is a term thrown around a lot but it does actually mean something. Here’s the lowdown…
- Speciality coffee is typically graded by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), which uses a standardised grading system to evaluate coffee beans based on their sensory characteristics, defects, and overall quality.
- The SCA grading system is based on a scale of 0-100 points, with higher scores indicating better quality.
- The SCA uses a set of criteria to evaluate coffee beans, including:
* Flavor – the taste profile of the coffee, including acidity, sweetness, bitterness, and other flavor characteristics.
* Aroma – the smell of the coffee, including its intensity, complexity, and distinctiveness.
* Aftertaste – the lingering taste and mouthfeel of the coffee after it has been consumed.
* Body – the thickness and texture of the coffee, including its viscosity and mouthfeel.
* Uniformity – the consistency of the coffee beans, including their size, shape, and color.
* Clean cup – the absence of any unpleasant or off-flavors in the coffee.
* Sweetness – the natural sweetness of the coffee, which can be influenced by factors such as the origin of the beans and the roasting process.
*Defects – any imperfections or flaws in the coffee, such as mold, insect damage, or uneven roasting.
4. Based on these criteria, the SCA grades speciality coffee beans on a scale of 0-100 points, with scores of 80 or above typically considered to be of high quality and worthy of the “speciality coffee” designation.
5. Commodity coffee on the other hand coffee that is traded as a bulk commodity in the global market based on its quality, price, and supply and demand factors. It is typically grown on large-scale farms using conventional farming methods and sold in large quantities to commodity buyers who blend and roast the coffee for mass-market consumption.
6. Commodity coffee is often associated with lower quality and lower prices As a result, commodity coffee is generally considered to be more standardised and lacking in unique flavor profiles or origin characteristics.
7. Speciality coffee, is generally produced in smaller quantities, using high-quality beans, and with more attention to flavor and sustainability.
8. We only source, roast and sell speciality beans at Bun Coffee to give you the best coffee tasting experience.