Specialty Coffee refers to the grade of coffee (low grade, commodity, premium and specialty)
Specialty being the highest grade and quality coffee can be. The crème-de-la-crème of the industry!
On a grading scale of 100 points, specialty coffee scores above 80. This is a standard that only 5% of coffees worldwide meet. To retain this high score, coffee graders look at multiple aspects of the bean including defects, cultivation process, aroma, body, flavour clarity, acidity and balance. We are proud that our cupping score averages above 84, reflecting the speciality quality of our coffee.
Speciality coffee refers to the complete process from farmer, to cup, to roasting, to extraction. Speciality coffees are generally grown at higher elevations (in our instance, the Andes Mountains in Peru) in traceable locations and processed carefully once harvested. Every production component from growing to brewing is carefully monitored, to produce the best cup of coffee possible.
More than a score, specialty coffee is a mindset!
Unlike commercial grades of coffee, specialty coffee is handpicked, single origin or intentionally blended. Grown at high altitude and carefully crafted right to the cup in your hand!
It’s a philosophy that values transparency, quality and sustainability
Cupping scores are a reliable measure of the quality of coffee, an internationally recognised measure by the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America). The system, based on a 100-point scale allows coffee lovers to gain insight into the quality of the roast through classifications from very low "off-grade" coffees through to "super premium speciality coffee". The SCAA defines specialty coffee as "the highest quality green coffee beans roasted to their greatest flavour potential by true craftspeople and then properly brewed to well-established SCAA developed standards".
The cupping process uses a standardised methodology to assess a coffee's cup characteristics, which in turn allows consumers to evaluate prices based upon genuine quality. In its' simplest form, cupping involves pouring hot water over ground coffee, and evaluating it based upon its aroma and flavour. Modern cupping processes are highly precise, requiring perfectly ground coffee, exact water temperature, and other specific conditions to ensure an accurate flavour profile and aroma is produced.
Assessment of specific aspects of the coffee means that a balanced total score can be reached. Any defects are then subtracted from this score to calculate the final score, which is a comparable measure against other brands to assess overall quality of the coffee. We are proud that our coffee score sits competitively against our competitors, reflecting our true Peruvian flavour and genuine high quality.
Three Llamas Gourmet Coffee is ethically sourced, single origin and organic. From the region of Cajamarca Peru, our coffee is small batch roasted and crafted for a unique experience in every cup. Our founders sourced our beans, met our growers personally and, during the harvest season regularly walked the fields our coffee comes from to ensure our beans are the best they can be!
Taste the difference of Specialty Coffee