Specialty Coffee Beans

Why You Should Buy Specialty Coffee Beans

If you're a coffee lover, you know that there's a big difference between a cup of coffee made with specialty beans and a cup made with your average supermarket beans. Specialty coffee beans are grown, harvested, and roasted to a higher standard, resulting in a cup of coffee that is richer, more flavoursome and more complex. 

But what exactly are specialty coffee beans? And why should you buy them?

Specialty coffee beans are coffee beans that have been graded at 80 or higher on the Q grading scale. This means that they have been grown, processed, and roasted to a high standard. They are also free of defects, such as black beans, broken beans, and foreign matter.

The Q grading scale is a standardised system for grading the quality of green coffee beans. It is used by coffee professionals all over the world to assess the quality of coffee beans before they are roasted.

The Q grading scale uses a score of 1 to 100, with 100 being the highest grade. The score is determined by a number of factors, including the appearance, aroma, flavour, body, and acidity of the coffee beans.

Great Bean Grading

Here are some of the factors that are considered when grading coffee beans on the Q scale:

  • Appearance: The beans should be uniform in size, shape, and colour. They should also be free of defects, such as black beans, broken beans, and foreign matter.
  • Aroma: The beans should have a clean, fresh aroma. They should not have any off-odours.
  • Flavour: The beans should have a rich, complex flavour. They should be balanced and should not be too acidic or too bitter.
  • Body: The beans should have a full body. They should not be too thin or too weak.
  • Acidity: The beans should have a clean, bright acidity. They should not be too sour or too tart.

Coffee beans that score 80 or higher on the Q grading scale are considered to be specialty coffee. Specialty coffee is high-quality coffee that has been grown, processed, and roasted to a high standard.

Specialty coffee beans have a number of advantages over regular coffee beans. They are:

  • Richer in flavour: They have a richer, more complex flavour than regular coffee beans. This is because they are grown in specific regions and roasted to bring out their unique flavours.
  • More aroma: Specialty coffee beans have a more intense aroma than regular coffee beans. This is because they are grown in high-altitude regions and roasted to a higher temperature.
  • Smoother taste: They have a smoother taste than regular coffee beans. This is because they are less acidic and have a higher fat content.
  • More consistent quality: Specialty coffee beans are graded by a panel of experts, ensuring that you get a consistent quality every time you brew.

If you're looking for the best cup of coffee possible, then you should buy specialty coffee beans. They will give you a cup of coffee that is rich, flavourful, and complex.

Here are a few tips for buying specialty coffee beans:

  • Buy our Specialty Coffee: When you're buying specialty coffee beans, it's important to buy from a reputable roaster. This will ensure that you're getting fresh, high-quality beans.
  • Ask about the beans' origin: The origin of the beans can tell you a lot about their flavour profile. Ask the roaster where the beans are from and what their flavour profile is like.
  • Store the beans properly: Specialty coffee beans should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. This will help to preserve their flavour and aroma.
  • Grind your beans fresh: For the best flavour, grind your beans just before brewing. This will help to release the beans' full flavour potential.

If you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to enjoying the delicious taste of specialty coffee beans. We are a specialty coffee roaster and are on a mission to improve the coffee experience for everybody who uses our coffee.

If you would like more information, a great resource is the Specialty Coffee Association

Specialty Coffee Association