specialty coffee

The widely accepted definition of specialty coffee is coffee scoring 80 points or above on the 100-point scale used on the Specialty Coffee Association Cupping form. Coffee scoring from 90 to 100 is graded Outstanding, coffee that scores 85–89.99 is graded Excellent, while coffee scoring 80–84.99 is graded Very Good.

The Specialty Coffee Association has a series of more detailed specifications (SCA is the union of the Specialty Coffee Association of American (SCAA) and Europe (SCAE){{Cite web|url=https://sca.coffee/sca-membership-updates/2017/5/10/faqobs748khtt0w5m60bh6sayaw0xh|title=How are your benefits changing under the unified organization?|website=Specialty Coffee Association|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-26}}). The SCA sets standards for specialty coffee at every stage of the coffee production, including allowable defects in green beans, water standards, and brew strength. The SCA also sets clear standards on the coffee grading process.{{Cite web|url=https://sca.coffee/research/coffee-standards|title=Coffee Standards|website=Specialty Coffee Association|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-26}} A minimum requirement for a specialty coffee is the number of defects: to be considered specialty a coffee must have 0 to 5 defects every {{convert|350|g|oz|abbr=in}} of milled beans.

Although there are different definitions of specialty coffee according to different international organisations, there is a general acceptance of a set of three minimum requirements: coffee should have been hand-picked by selective picking of mature beans, scoring 80 or above, maximum 5 defects per {{convert|350|g|oz|abbr=in}}.

Many organisations and activists are working to include strict environmental and social indicators in the definition and grading of specialty coffee. For example, biologist Giorgio Piracci, president of the Peruvian NGO 7Elements Peru{{cite web|url=https://www.the7elements.com|title=The Seven Elements {{!}} Indigenous permaculture from peruvian cloud forest}} and producer of the first specialty coffee produced applying permaculture ethics and principles, argues that "there's a urgent need to redefine the concept of quality and to embed into it the environmental and socio-economic quality component both at production and distribution level"; according to his vision, "it makes no sense to talk about an "excellent" coffee if this is produced using harmful pesticides, fertilisers or environmentally impacting farming techniques; in the same way, "how can we talk about excellence if a cup of coffee is produced thanks to modern forms of slavery and human exploitation?"{{Cite web|title=Coffee & TV - Puntata N° 5 - Giulia Berdardelli e Giorgio Piracci|url=https://www.spreaker.com/user/davidecobelli/coffee-tv-puntata-n-5|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Spreaker|language=en}}

Similar positions are often promoted by Fernando Morales-de La Cruz, journalist and founder of Coffee for Change, an organisation fighting against the use of child labour in the coffee industry; the journalist is very active also in showing up how the labelling system of "Fair trade" is often used although poor, unfair economic conditions for farmers. In a recent interview, at a European Parliament hearing on child labor in cocoa & coffee, Ange Aboa a Reuters correspondent for West & Central Africa said "certifications Fairtrade, UTZ & RainforestAlliance are the biggest scam of the century!".{{Cite web|title=Fernando Morales-de la Cruz|url=https://www.facebook.com/fernando.moralesdelacruz/posts/3150362708404261|access-date=2020-08-18|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} Morales-de La Cruz stated that "It's unacceptable and illegal that seventy years after signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Europe's 'Fairtrade' coffee, tea & cocoa is grown with slave & child labor. The European Union is the largest importer of coffee in the world. In 2019 Europe paid poor coffee growers 75% less than in 1983".{{Cite web|title=Fernando Morales-de la Cruz|url=https://www.facebook.com/fernando.moralesdelacruz/posts/3097921770315022|access-date=2020-08-18|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}

In general, coffee is grown in the "Bean Belt", between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, which produce the tropical climate required for trees to thrive. Specialty coffee is typically grown in three continents: South and Central Americas, Asia, and Africa.

The world's most expensive specialty coffee is Panama Geisha coffee, which has been sold for over {{convert|800|$/lb|$/kg|abbr=in|order=flip|$=US$}}.{{Cite web|url=http://gcrmag.com/news/article/elida-estate-geisha-natural-breaks-best-of-panama-auction-record-at-803-per|title=Elida Estate Geisha Natural breaks Best of Panama auction record at US$803 per pound {{!}} Global Coffee Report|website=gcrmag.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-26}}

Another key difference between specialty coffee and commercial coffee is how much the final flavor is influenced by climate, altitude, rainfall, and the skills of the coffee grower. Unlike commercial blends, which seek consistency, specialty coffee can vary noticeably from harvest to harvest, reflecting the environmental conditions of each year.{{Cite web|title=New Harvest: Did the Flavor of Your Coffee Change?|url=https://www.outletdelcafe.cl/blogs/blog-de-the-outlet-market/nueva-cosecha-cambio-el-sabor-de-tu-cafe|website=Outlet del Café|language=en|access-date=2025-07-10}}

In Australia and New Zealand, specialty coffee is considered mainstream.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36423824|title='Hipster coffee' gets Australia hot and frothing|last=Davies|first=Shaun|date=2016-06-01|access-date=2019-08-26|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/australian-coffee-cafe-take-over|title=How Australian Coffee Took Over—And Why New Zealand Coffee Could Be Next|last=Plummer|first=Todd|work=Vogue|language=en|date=2018-01-01|access-date=2019-08-26}} This is perhaps partly due to a long history of espresso consumption, fuelled by large Italian and Greek migrations in the mid-twentieth century.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/drinks/2016/2/19/11059310/australian-coffee-culture-america|title=Australian Coffee Culture Is Inspiring a New Wave of American Cafes|last=Milkman|first=Arielle|date=2016-02-19|website=Eater|access-date=2019-08-26}}

While specialty coffee in North America is rarely offered in major coffee chains, the Third Wave of Coffee has resulted in a significant increase in specialty coffee consumption. Independent, "Australian-style", or artisan cafes have opened in multiple cities.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/06/travel/where-to-find-good-coffee-in-midtown-manhattan-new-york-city.html|title=Well-Made Coffee Migrates to Midtown Manhattan|last=Rodbard|first=Matt|date=2017-04-06 |work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-08-26|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2013/08/16/second_cup_launches_new_look.html|title=Second Cup launches new look {{!}} The Star |website=thestar.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-26}} An SCAA report estimated the US had 29,300 specialty coffee shops in 2013, up from 2,850 in 1993.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scaa.org/?page=resources&d=facts-and-figures |title=Specialty Coffee Association of America |website=www.scaa.org|access-date=2019-08-26}}

Europe is already a major coffee market accounting for 30% of global consumption, but is seeing a growth in demand for specialty coffee while overall demand remains stable.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/coffee/trade-statistics/#the-european-market-for-specialty-coffee-is-growing|title=What is the demand for coffee in Europe? {{!}} CBI - Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries|website=www.cbi.eu|access-date=2019-08-26}} In 2016, specialty coffee was Europe's fastest growing major restaurant category, with an increase of 9.1% from 2014 to 2015. Western Europe saw a particularly large growth of 10.5% in the specialty cafe market, while the overall coffee industry reduced by 1.5%, perhaps due to a longer history of coffee consumption.{{Cite web |url=https://blog.euromonitor.com/coffee-shops-around-the-world-three-key-insights-for-2016/|title=Coffee Shops Around the World: Three Key Insights for 2016|date=2016-04-10|website=Market Research Blog|language=en-GB |access-date=2019-08-26}} In 2021, Europe region emerged as the largest market for the global specialty coffee market with a 46.21% share of the market revenue{{Cite web |url=https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/report/specialty-coffee-market-12699 |title=Specialty Coffee Market Size by Grade, Application, Regions, Global Industry Analysis, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2022 to 2030 |website=www.thebrainyinsights.com/|access-date=2019-08-26}}

Asia is projected to soon represent the world's largest consumer of specialty coffee, with over US$3.7 billion in new value growth projected from 2016 to 2020. Despite Asia being traditionally dominated by tea consumption, it is now easy to find specialty coffee shops across many Korean, Chinese and Japanese cities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comunicaffe.com/growth-and-development-of-the-coffee-culture-in-the-asian-market/ |title=Growth and development of the coffee culture in the Asian market |date=2018-07-02|website=Comunicaffe International|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-26}} The growing trend of coffee consumption in Asia, particularly in China, is driven by the perception of coffee as an experience rather than just a beverage. While the taste of coffee remains central, social media has shifted consumers' focus towards the symbolic meaning of drinking coffee as a representation of lifestyle.{{Cite journal |last=Xu |first=Xinyue |last2=Ng |first2=Aaron Yikai |date=2023-08-18 |title=Cultivation of new taste: taste makers and new forms of distinction in China’s Coffee Culture |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2022.2085616 |journal=Information, Communication & Society |language=en |volume=26 |issue=11 |pages=2345–2362 |doi=10.1080/1369118X.2022.2085616 |issn=1369-118X|url-access=subscription }}

There have also been increases in the consumption of coffee from countries traditionally responsible for growing coffee. Brazil's overall coffee consumption in 2014 was 21 million bags, close to that of the US at 23.4 million bags. Guatemala is also experiencing a surge in popularity of specialty coffee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2016/12/specialty-coffee-shop-tour-guatemala/|title=A Specialty Coffee Shop Tour of Guatemala|last=Editorial|date=2016-12-08|website=Perfect Daily Grind|access-date=2019-08-26}}

In Qatar and the rest of the Gulf region, the consumption of Specialty Coffee has increased progressively into a flourishing industry since mid-2010's.{{cite web |last1=Tark |first1=Sunghee |title=Understanding The Middle East’s Flourishing Coffee Market |url=https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/06/understanding-the-middle-easts-flourishing-coffee-market/ |website=Perfect Daily Grind |publisher=PDG |access-date=26 September 2022}} Noting Specialty Coffee is very distinct to the traditional Kahwah Al Arabiya which already had a considerable presence in the gulfian market.{{cite web |title=Qatar Coffee Market (2020-2026) |url=https://www.6wresearch.com/industry-report/qatar-coffee-market-2020-2026 |website=6w Research |publisher=6w Research |access-date=26 September 2022}}

The specialty coffee segment is on an upward trajectory, and its market value is expected to reach $152.69 billion by 2030. This is influenced by such factors as growing preferences towards high-quality coffee and increasing emphasis on sustainability.{{cite web |title=The Trends and Future of Specialty Coffee |url=https://specialtykava.si/en/the-trends-and-future-of-specialty-coffee/ |website=Specialty Kava Slovenia |access-date=2025-01-09}}

• Specialty Coffee Association of America{{cite web|url=http://www.scaa.org/|title=Specialty Coffee Association of America|publisher=Scaa.org|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• Speciality Coffee Association of Europe{{cite web|url=http://www.scae.com/|title=Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE)|publisher=Scae.com|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• Specialty Coffee Association of Japan{{cite web|url=http://www.scaj.org/|title=Specialty Coffee Association of Japan|publisher=Scaj.org|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association{{cite web|url=http://www.nzcra.org.nz/|title=New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association|publisher=Nzcra.org.nz|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• Singapore Coffee Association{{cite web|url=http://www.singaporecoffee.org/|title=Singapore Coffee Association (SCA)|author=Singapore Coffee Association (SCA)|publisher=Singaporecoffee.org|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• AustralAsian Specialty Coffee Association{{cite web|url=http://www.aasca.com/|title=Australian Specialty Coffee Association|publisher=Aasca.com|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• Specialty Coffee Association of Korea{{cite web|url=http://scacoffee.kr/|title=Specialty Coffee Association of Korea|publisher=scacoffee.kr|accessdate=1 February 2019}}
• Specialty Coffee Association of Southern Africa{{Cite web|url=https://scasa.co.za/|title=SCASA - Specialty Coffee Association of Southern Africa|website=scasa.co.za|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18}}
• SCA Italy{{cite web|url=http://www.scaitaly.coffee/|title=SCA Italy {{!}} Specialty Coffee Association Italiana|language=it}}
• [https://scanederland.coffee/ SCA Nederland]

• ANACAFE's Guatemalan Cup of Excellence {{Cite web|url=http://www.anacafe.org/glifos/index.php?title=Categor%C3%ADa:Subasta-coe-2017|title=Cup of Excellence 2017 ®|website=www.anacafe.org|access-date=2017-06-02|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606015315/http://www.anacafe.org/glifos/index.php?title=Categor%C3%ADa:Subasta-coe-2017|archive-date=2017-06-06}}
• Specialty Coffee Association of Bolivia
• Brazil Specialty Coffee Association{{cite web|url=http://www.bsca.com.br/|title=BSCA - Brazil Specialty Coffee Association|publisher=Bsca.com.br|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• Colombian Coffee Federation{{cite web|url=http://www.juanvaldez.com|title=Juan Valdez|publisher=Juanvaldez.com|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica{{cite web|url=http://www.scacr.com/en/|title=Cup of Excellence Costa Rica 2008|website=Asociación de Cafes Finos de Costa Rica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512154001/http://www.scacr.com/en/|archive-date=May 12, 2008}}
• African Fine Coffees Association{{cite web|url=https://afca.coffee/|title=African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA)|publisher=Afca.coffee|accessdate=7 July 2021}}
• Itzalco Fine Coffee Association of El Salvador{{cite web|url=http://coffeebeliever.com/what-is-specialty-coffee/|title=What Is Specialty Coffee?|publisher=Coffeebeliever.com|accessdate=21 January 2017}}
• Specialty Coffee Association of India{{cite web|url=http://www.scaindia.org/|title=Speciality Coffee Association of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005044644/http://www.scaindia.org/|archive-date=October 5, 2008}}
• Specialty Coffee Association of Indonesia{{cite web|url=http://www.sca-indo.org/|title=SCA-INDO|publisher=Sca-indo.org|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• Asociación de Cafés Especiales de Nicaragua
• Association of Special Coffees of Panama{{cite web|url=http://www.panamaspecialtycoffee.com/|title=Panamaspecialtycoffee.com|publisher=Panamaspecialtycoffee.com|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• Specialty Coffee Association of Southern Africa{{cite web|url=http://www.scasa.co.za/|title=SCASA - Specialty Coffee Association of Southern Africa|author=Kyle Fraser|publisher=Scasa.co.za|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
• Asociación Mexicana de Cafés y Cafeterías de Especialidad A.C.{{cite web|url=http://www.amcce.org.mx/|title=Asociación Mexicana de Cafés y Cafeterías de Especialidad|language=es}}

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