What is speciality coffee?
Speciality coffee has been available in the United States for some thirty years, and arrived in France almost ten years ago. Initially confined to the capital, in places known only to purists, speciality cafés are now booming all over France, a country where coffee is the second most popular drink after water. 300,000 tonnes of green coffee are consumed in France every year.
What is speciality coffee?
According to the Speciality Coffee Association (SCA), the most authoritative body in the industry, which governs the international rules governing speciality coffees, these are so-called “flawless” coffees that meet strict standards from the cultivation of the tree right through to the final taste in the cup. A rare commodity, speciality coffee accounts for less than 2% of the world’s coffee production.
To provide a framework for the various practices and to certify to the consumer that the products are of the highest quality, the SCA introduced a rating out of 100 in 1982 to govern the products eligible for the “Speciality Coffee” registered designation.
Only coffees with a rating of 80/100 or more are eligible. The SCA provides the following details:
“Specialty coffee is defined as the best coffee produced in the world. Its qualification is governed by a world-renowned tasting protocol, created by the Specialty Coffee Association Of America. The coffee must achieve a tasting score of at least 80/100. SCA grading, from 80 to 85 = Specialty Coffee, from 85 to 88= Exceptional Coffee and from 88 to 90+ = Outstanding Grand Cru”.
Ratings are based on a list of 10 specific criteria. They cover farming techniques that must be respectful of the environment, harvesting methods that allow full traceability of the farms, tailor-made roasting that reveals the unique aromas of each bean, and the skills of the Barista who will respect the standards of taste preparation.
Speciality coffees are then rated at the end of the chain by approved specialists, known as Q-Grader, during a standardised tasting session. They are the only people recognised internationally to judge the granting of the appellation.
At Cafés du Monde, we’ve taken up the challenge of adopting a responsible approach to offering you coffees from our best finds from the four corners of the world.
In fact, we know each of the farmers and their production methods, choosing only coffees from organic crops that have not undergone any chemical treatment.
The coffees chosen are only those that are harvested and sorted by hand, ensuring the highest quality in the selection of ripe coffee cherries, and allowing all the traditional experience of the pickers to express itself. This homogeneous crop can then be considered flawless…
What’s more, thanks to our network of committed French roasters, we can offer you a gentle roasting process that respects the history and terroir of each coffee profile. A gentle roasting or ‘monk’s robe’, typically French, allows a good balance between acidity and bitterness, revealing the aromatic complexity of the different origins for a unique sensory experience.
Initially seen as a fad by the big players in the coffee industry, speciality coffee has now made its mark and is growing its community by the day.
Every day, Cafés du Monde strives to bring this new impetus to a sector that has been industrial for too long and is now reaching the end of its tether. We’re here to support you in this commitment, to the delight of your taste buds!
We promise you’ll love drinking the cup with us! 😉
