The Ultimate Guide to Speciality Coffee.
Speciality coffee refers to a certain quality of beans, which is evaluated by trained specialists, known as Q-graders, to score at least 80 out of 100 on the Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) scale.
This score is based on various factors such as flavour, aroma, body, acidity, and balance. These beans are often distinguished from other coffee beans by their distinctive flavours and characteristics.
These characteristics are influenced by the type of coffee plant, the soil, the climate in which they are grown, and the processing and roasting methods used.
Numerous coffee shops redefined the term "speciality coffee" to align with individual objectives, resulting in a much more diluted understanding of what the phrase actually represents. Yet, contrary to the notion that speciality coffee represents “more interesting” or “more expensive” coffee, speciality coffee beans is actually representative of quality, sustainability, and unique flavour profiles. The phrase also describes a niche movement that targets coffee enthusiasts and quality aficionados, moving away from commodity coffee.
What is Speciality Coffee?
Speciality coffee is often single origin. The beans come from a single location rather than a blend of beans from multiple sources. Definitions vary on what is considered a single location; is it one farm, one region or one group of farms in the same region? Some in the industry stretch this definition too far and argue that one country is single-origin. At Guillam, we believe this is too broad.
We stick to a cooperative or small region in a country as being the most expansive definition of single origin. We stock +9 different single-origin coffee beans from various regions/countries to allow you to experience the different nuanced flavors of coffee.”
- Abdelrahman Fathalla, Founder of Guillam Coffee House.
The History of Speciality Coffee
In a market once dominated by commodity coffee, favoring quantity over quality, Erna Knutsen, also known as the godmother of speciality coffee. She was able to transform her fascination of the “special” coffees into an international movement.
Erna Knutsen coined the term "speciality coffee" in 1974. She used the phrase in an interview, to distinguish the high quality coffee she sourced from the commodity coffee dominating the market at the time. Erna was a pioneer in the speciality coffee industry. She also supported the founding of the American Speciality Coffee Association. She established a path for women in the coffee industry.
At the time, the coffee industry primarily focused on commercial uniformity and low pricing, which often resulted in lower quality coffee. Yet, Erna’s love for coffee made her want to give consumers the opportunity to experience the unique flavors and characteristics of high-quality coffee.
Much like Erna, at Guillam Coffee House, our love for coffee drives us to want to give our customers an unforgettable speciality coffee experience. This is why we offer an exceptional collection of single origin coffees sourced from all around the world.
Subsequently, influenced by the growing speciality coffee movement, the 1990s marked a shift in London’s coffee scene. Coffee shops beginning to prioritize quality over quantity. This movement not only saw to bettering the quality of coffee, but it also managed to emphasize transparency in sourcing, sustainability, and the unique flavour profiles of coffee.
Today, London is a speciality coffee hub, with a constantly evolving speciality coffee culture, dedicated to high-quality brews that often feature single-origin coffees and innovative brewing methods.
How to identify single-origin Coffee?
Speciality coffee… or not? While some coffee beans may appear to be speciality coffee, it’s essential to know and understand the identifying characteristics of speciality beans.
How to identify speciality coffee?
- Labeling: Look for the term "Speciality" on the packaging. This indicates that the coffee meets the standards set by the Speciality Coffee Association (SCA).
- Flavour Profile: Specialty coffees typically have distinct flavour notes and aromas. If the coffee description highlights unique tasting notes such as fruity, floral, or nutty, it’s a good sign. For example, you’ll find that we always list the tasting notes of our coffee beans online and in stores.
- Packaging Quality: Since speciality coffee roasters prioritize quality, the packaging should reflect this commitment. High-quality packaging often indicates a focus on preserving the coffee's integrity.
- Reputation: Research the reputation of the coffee roaster or shop. Speciality coffee should always be traceable, and the source of the beans should provide transparent and reliable information. At Guillam, each of our beans come with a label that provides information about their origin and the processing methods used.
- Tasting Events: Attend tasting events at local coffee shops to assess the overall quality of the offerings, from the beans themselves to the knowledge of the baristas. Check out our Instagram to know when our next tasting event will be.
Why choose speciality coffee?
What is so special about speciality coffee? Speciality coffee is a product of high quality, due to the meticulousness of its lifecycle. There are many reasons why we love speciality coffee at Guillam, but to start off, we will only give you a few of our favourite key advantages.
1) Taste:
If you’re a true coffee enthusiast, or even if you aren’t, you must know that taste definitely matters! Speciality coffee is renowned for having a more complex and nuanced flavour profile. The notes of fruit, nuts, chocolate, and other characteristics that are not typically found in regular coffee.
2) Quality:
Quality over quantity isn’t just a phrase, it’s also a key principle when choosing between speciality beans and regular beans. Speciality coffee is grown, harvested, and processed with care, resulting in a much higher quality cup of coffee.
3) Sustainability:
Not only does speciality coffee hold advantages for you, but it's also very advantageous for everyone involved in the process. Most speciality coffee roasters are committed to sustainable practices, such as sourcing beans from small farms, paying above market prices to help support the farmers, and using eco-friendly or efficient roasting methods.
4) Variety:
Variety is the spice of life indeed, and the variety of speciality coffee sure doesn't disappoint! Speciality coffee offers a wide range of single-origin beans, allowing you to experience new and unique flavors all the time.
In a world where coffee is often treated as a commodity, choosing speciality coffee allows you to savor a truly exceptional experience. Not only does it offer a richer and more complex flavour profile, but it also supports sustainable practices and the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.
At Guillam, we believe that by understanding what defines speciality coffee and how to identify it.You can make informed choices that enhance your coffee experience.
