To put it simply, if the SCA or COE cupping table score is above 80 points, it can be called specialty coffee.
Misunderstanding warning: Not all hand-brewed coffee is called specialty coffee.
Specialty coffee, broadly speaking, refers to coffee made from coffee beans with unique flavor cultivated under special climate and geographical conditions.
The Specialty Coffee Association SCA also gave a more detailed explanation of specialty coffee. They believe that:
Zhen Selection is most suitable for cultivating coffee bean varieties grown in the production area. Altitude, climate and water and soil environment have put forward almost stringent requirements. Through washing and sun-drying processing, flawless high-grade green beans are selected and delivered to customers through strict and professional transportation plans. Then the roasters roast the beans according to the characteristics of different beans to release the best flavor of the coffee beans, and then the coffee is brewed by hand. Only then can it be called specialty coffee.
It can be seen that specialty coffee is the entire coffee industry’s ultimate pursuit of craftsmanship and return to a pure and refined lifestyle. Therefore, the middle class prefers specialty coffee.
PS: Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) standards:
1. Whether it has rich dry aroma (Fragrance). The so-called dry aroma refers to the aroma of coffee after roasting or grinding.
2. Whether it has a rich wet aroma (Aroma). Wet aroma refers to the aroma of coffee extract.
3. Whether it has rich acidity (Acidity). It refers to the sourness of coffee. The combination of rich sourness and sugar can increase the sweetness of coffee liquid.
4. Whether it has rich body. It refers to the concentration and weight of the coffee liquid.
5. Whether it has a rich aftertaste. It refers to the aftertaste of coffee and is evaluated based on the flavor after drinking or spitting it out.
6. Whether it has rich flavor (Flavor). It refers to the taste, feeling the aroma and taste of the coffee liquid on the palate, and understanding the taste of coffee.
7. Is the taste balanced? It refers to the balance and combination of various flavors of coffee.