For a lot of people, coffee isn’t just a morning habit that you have to get over with before you dive into your day. It is an experience. A ritual that, if performed in the morning, definitely gets you prepared for the day. A ritual that gives you an opportunity to pause, no matter where you are, and no matter what time it is – an opportunity to pause, unwind, think, and reflect. Plus, it is so darn delicious!
Here’s a nice read on why we may love coffee so much: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2018/11/15/the-strange-psychology-of-why-we-love-the-taste-of-coffee/
While it was once easy to bond with another person over the fact that we both simply drink coffee, things have gotten a bit more complicated than that. Sure, we still respect fellow coffee enthusiasts no matter what type they are drinking, but there is no denying the fact that we also love hearing that someone drinks the same type as we do and that this has become a great bonding element. Anyway, the bottom line here is that there are numerous different types out there today, and the shelves are filled with all kinds of products, so you may want to experiment until you’ve found what you like best.
Among those various products, specialty coffee, as well as a more special option, undeniably stands out today. And, people certainly love having it. It is not about going for the more expensive option, of course, but about going for amazing quality, and amazing taste. The fact that you are here tells me that you’re looking to buy some specialty coffee yourself, but you may not be sure about how to do it right.
What Is Specialty Coffee?
Well, there are, without a doubt, some significant things that you do need to know when aiming to make the best possible choice. But, before we get to that, let us first quickly make sure that you actually understand what specialty coffee is in the first place. You have to know what you’re drinking, or planning on drinking at least, am I right? This will give you an idea as well.
So, specialty coffee is basically a quality classification used by professionals in the world of coffee. The classification means, in short, that the beans score more than 80 points on a 100-point scale during a standardized evaluation that is known as cupping. The beans are assessed by trained tasters, who use criteria such as aroma, flavor, acidity, sweetness, and aftertaste, as well as, naturally, the lack of defects.
Thus, to put things simply, specialty coffee is made of the best quality beans. Those are grown under ideal conditions and then carefully processed, as well as properly roasted so that when they are brewed, they highlight the unique characteristics of those beans. And provides you with an amazingly delicious cup of your favorite drink that is sure to create the perfect experience for you.
Things to Know When Buying It
Okay, you now get what specialty coffee is. But, what you want is to understand what to know when buying it, so that you can actually buy the best products for yourself. And, well, there are a few significant things to know here, so let me start listing them for you right away.
First things first, you should know that not all roasters are the same. Meaning, thus, that the main thing to do when you want to buy great specialty coffee is to find amazing roasters that will be able to provide you with great quality products. So, research more companies in details, check their experience and their reputation, take a closer look at their products, and don’t forget to also read reviews written by their previous customers, as those could tell you more about the quality of the products and the service, and about anything else that you may want to know before buying.
Of course, moving on, you should also understand roast levels. Sure, you don’t have to become an expert on these, but you need to have at least an idea of what those are, so that you can choose the right products for yourself. Light, medium, and dark… All of those will offer different flavors, and the truth is that there is no best roast out there. In short, it all depends on your personal preferences.
Moving on, freshness is also extremely important. This means that you should always check if the roasters you want to partner up with can provide you with fresh coffee, instead of some batches that have been stored for far too long. And then, of course, also learn how to store this product, to ensure it remains fresh.
Finally, you should take the prices into account as well, when trying to buy the perfect product for you here. Why? Because you want to find something that will be within your budget, and that won’t break the bank. And, that is certainly possible. Yet, remember that quality should always come first.
