What makes specialty coffees?
At first the answer might seem subjective, depending on individual tastes.
But we will see that, for a coffee to be truly special, it has to meet a series of conditions.
In this brief article, we'll try to give you the keys to distinguishing between commercial and specialty coffee. We'll also explain why this is important, as it's not subjective at all.
The organoleptic profile changes; specialty coffees are much richer on the palate, the psychoactive profile, since they usually have less caffeine , and the environmental, ethical, and economic impact.
Mediocrity: Commercial Coffee
We attribute the mediocrity of commercial coffee to coffee defects and poor practices.
What all coffees have in common is that the plant from which the fruit is obtained belongs to the coffea family, which contains caffeine, and we use it to make a drink. But that tells us very little about coffee.
And that's basically all the information a commercial coffee offers. We use the term commercial coffee as opposed to specialty coffees.
Mediocrity is a coffee with generally unpleasant, bitter, and standardized flavor notes; all commercial coffees have a similar taste . This is why many people often dislike coffee or drink it with additives to disguise this bad taste: milk, sugar, or other flavorings.
Regular coffee, that is, the kind most commonly consumed and what we call commercial coffee, is practically anonymous. We don't know who grew it, what variety it is, where it was grown, at what altitude, or when.
We don't know who picked it or what process it was subjected to. We only know the brand, which may or may not be the one who roasted it.
All of these factors directly affect the organoleptic profile. Commercial coffees often have a very poor or nonexistent tasting profile, and their environmental, ethical, social, and economic impact is highly questionable.
Types of specialty coffees
Specialty coffees, on the other hand, have a pedigree . That is, we know who grew them (the producer), what plants were used (the variety), where (the origin and altitude), when they were picked (the harvest), how they were dried (the process), and who roasted them and when (roaster and roasting date).
None of this is superfluous. Knowing who grew it allows us to establish fair and dignified dealings with them. Knowing the variety, origin, and altitude establishes traceability. Knowing the harvest date lets us know if it's fresh. Knowing the process lets us know what to expect in the cup and how to roast it.
And knowing the roaster and the roasting date ensures proper roasting and that we consume it at its best.
All of these factors—from variety, soil type, and altitude to processing and roasting—influence the flavor of coffee. And the multiple combinations of all these factors create the wide variety of cup profiles.
That is, they are coffees with different tasting notes and a great deal of richness and subtlety on the palate.
Furthermore, part of the philosophy behind specialty coffees is that they must be environmentally friendly and fairly traded . This is the only way for them to be sustainable in the long term.
If you want to know more about all the differences between commercial coffee and specialty coffee, we recommend you read this post: see quality coffees
There are many factors that make a coffee special, from cultivation to preparation, everything influences
How to identify specialty coffees
A roaster who works with specialty coffees will want to know everything about the origin and process so they can roast it properly. They'll also provide this information, along with the roast type, date, and tasting notes, to the consumer.
Therefore, we can make a list with the information we need to identify a specialty coffee :
- Farm, washing station and/or producer
- Country of origin and region
- Plantation height
- Variety or varieties of coffee trees
- Harvest date
- Type of processing
- Tasting notes
- Roasting date
The roaster will provide this information both on the package and in the accompanying coffee information sheet that usually accompanies it. Alternatively, as we do at Ineffable Coffee, this information may be expanded in three steps, depending on the format and space: package, information sheet, and blog post on the website.
Where to find the information
As consumers, the first place to look for this information is on the packaging itself . It may not be all detailed, but it should always include the most important information. Let's use one of the coffees we've worked with at Ineffable Coffee as an example: 
Information to find on a package of specialty coffee If we find all this information on the coffee package, it's a first guarantee that it's a specialty coffee . In addition, the roaster can expand this information with other important details using a coffee-specific information sheet : 
Information that appears on the product information sheet of a specialty coffee from Ineffable Coffee
And finally, at Ineffable Coffee, we've rounded out this information with a dedicated blog post . This article not only offers important information, but also brings us closer to the coffee growers, the region where the coffee is grown, explains the process in detail, and even provides information on the economic and environmental impact.
Continuing with the same coffee we saw for the package and the tab, this is the accompanying blog entry: Lombardy 120H
Packaging of specialty coffees
For proper coffee preservation, it must be properly packaged . The most important thing about the package is that it is heat-sealed, airtight, and light-tight. It must also have a one-way valve to expel carbon dioxide and keep oxygen out, which slows oxidation and better preserves its qualities. 
Information on proper packaging of specialty coffee
Ineffable Coffee packages are 100% compostable and carefully designed.
The fact that they are compostable is in line with our philosophy of working with environmentally friendly and fair trade coffees .
Our vision for design is that we believe a good product needs packaging that does it justice.
This reflects all the care, attention, and love we put into it, as well as that of everyone who has worked on it before us along the production line.
Can we identify a specialty coffee just by the bean?
The great difference between specialty coffees is that they are very well selected beans from the plant to your cup:
- All coffees are of the Arabica species, which in turn has hundreds of varieties
- The place for planting is selected
- The grains are selected during the harvest, picking only the ripe cherries.
- Cherries are selected before and after processing
- The coffee is selected and different batches are made according to its botanical variety.
- A specific processing is applied to each batch
- The roasting profile of each batch is selected
Expert selection from planting, harvesting, and throughout the processing and drying processes are some of the secrets that result in a truly special coffee. 
Differences we can find between specialty coffee beans and commercial coffees
Furthermore, we can differentiate specialty coffee from commercial coffee because specialty coffee:
- It will be light or medium roasted. Never torrefacto.
- It will have an even roast
- It will have no defects
How to prepare specialty coffees
The way we prepare a specialty coffee will depend on both the coffee and our particular tastes.
Some coffees, due to their origin, processing, and roasting, will be best brewed using an espresso machine. Others, however, will be better with a filter method, such as an AeroPress.
This is something that the toaster will generally also tell us, since the type of toast will influence it.
Although any specialty coffee will turn out well using any method if we follow the correct guidelines, especially regarding grinding (if you're interested, we explain it in detail in this post ).
And finally, there are specialty coffee recipes. There are many methods and techniques for this, and in this link, we've provided some preparation guides so you can enjoy specialty coffee in your own home.
