What Is Specialty Coffee?
At Unbound Brews, every cup has a journey behind it—one rooted in craftsmanship, quality, and care. When we talk about “specialty coffee,” we mean beans sourced and roasted to exacting standards that start at the farm and carry through to your final cup.
So what exactly is specialty coffee?
Specialty Coffee Quality: From Farm to Cup
The term “specialty coffee” isn’t just a marketing phrase, it’s a formal designation backed by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). According to the SCA guidelines, only coffees scoring 80 points or higher on the 100‑point scale qualify as specialty coffee. This score is determined by a detailed process of green coffee grading and cupping (tasting).
What Makes a Coffee Score 80+?
Before roasting, beans are inspected for defects, things like black beans, sour beans, or broken pieces that impact quality and flavor. This is where specialty coffee separates from commodity coffee, which often gets bulked and sold without the same scrutiny or care. Once the coffee passes the physical inspection, it’s roasted and cupped and scored based on aroma, flavor, body, balance, and overall experience.
Who Scores and Defines Specialty Coffee?
The grading / scoring process is done by trained professionals known as Q Graders, think of them like sommeliers for coffee. Earning this certification takes rigorous testing, a deep understanding of flavor, and an ongoing commitment to excellence. The Q Grader program continues to evolve by reflecting the industry’s push toward progress, consistency, and sustainability. Q Graders play a crucial role in ensuring that quality coffee gets recognized and evaluated correctly.
Where Is Specialty Coffee Grown?
Specialty coffee thrives in high-altitude regions, in nutrient-rich soils, and under the care of intentional farming practices. These farms prioritize selective harvesting and processing methods that preserve and highlight the natural characteristics of the coffee. That’s how we get the tasting notes you see on the label—like maple syrup, blackberry, or honey.
We don’t add flavors to our coffee, those notes are already present. They’re a direct reflection of the terroir, coffee varietal, and processing method used on the farm.
Is Unbound Brews Specialty Coffee?
We source our coffee through trusted importers and partners who share our commitment to traceability, quality, and sustainability. Our relationships are built within the specialty coffee community, through farmers, exporters, and producers who work with integrity and care.
Whether it’s a washed Honduras or a naturally processed Ethiopian, every coffee we roast meets the specialty coffee standard. But beyond that, we aim to showcase what makes each origin unique.
Why Does It Matter?
Specialty coffee is about more than just great flavor (though we love that part too). It’s about transparency, sustainability, and shared respect every step of the way. When importers practice integrity, and when roasters like us handle the product with care—it shows in the cup.
Specialty coffee is more than a category, it is a global movement towards better flavor and a more sustainable future. Choosing 80+ scoring beans invites us all to take a little more time, ask a few more questions, and taste a little more deeply.
Join us on our journey of discovery and explore our premium selection of specialty coffee, and make a conscious choice today.