What defines specialty coffee?

Specialty coffee is defined by its quality and flavor profile, which is assessed through a systematic evaluation known as cupping. Beans graded above 80 points on a 100-point scale are recognized as specialty coffee. This grading system reflects various aspects such as aroma, flavor, acidity, body, balance, and aftertaste. The higher the score, the more favorable these qualities are considered.

While beans graded above 70 points may also be of good quality, they do not meet the official threshold to be classified as specialty coffee. Other choices, such as organic certification or sourcing beans from local farms, pertain to different aspects of coffee production and sustainability but are not the defining characteristics of specialty coffee itself. Therefore, the threshold of 80 points is critical in establishing what makes a coffee specialty rather than simply good or acceptable.