What do you know about the coffee in your cup right now? What’s the difference between specialty and regular coffee? Are you familiar with the key differences between specialty coffee and commercial coffee?
These are crucial questions, as you might be missing out on better brews if you don’t have an understanding of specialty vs. commercial coffee.
Are you confused by the high price of specialty coffee? We will show you why.
You don’t have to love specialty coffee beans.
Commercial coffee is still very popular. It accounts for a significant portion of the world’s coffee market. It’s a favorite of many coffee drinkers.
This article will explain the differences between specialty and commercial coffee. It will also help you make an informed decision about where to get your next cup of coffee.
What is Specialty and Commercial Coffee?
To avoid any misinterpretations, Let’s begin with the definitions.
Commercial coffee: Coffee that is roasted in large quantities and sold in bulk. These products can be found in nearly all shops.
Specialty Coffee: This is sold as beans, and will therefore need to be ground before you can make the next brew. You can buy it in bulk, or smaller quantities from specialty shops or coffee merchants. However, this is not always available at your local grocery shop.
Different types of coffee: Arabica vs Robusta
Coffee is the product of a long process. It’s not just about roasting. It is about the origin of the beans and their type.
There are approximately 75 types of coffee beans in the world, but only two are used in coffee production.
Arabica beans This type of coffee has over 160 varieties. You might recognize some of these names, which are frequently used in reference to coffee such as Acaia or Tribeca. This type of bean accounts for approximately 60% of the global market.
Robusta beans This type accounts for 40% of the world’s total stock. Because it yields a higher crop yield, it’s more affordable to produce and is, therefore, more widely distributed.
The Costs of Specialty and Commercial Coffee:
You’ll see that cost is a key factor in commercial coffee production. It makes sense to use beans that have a lower production cost.
This means that specialty coffee markets only select the highest quality Arabica beans. They are less bitter and more acidic.
The debate about the differences between specialty and regular coffees is heavily influenced by cost.
These specialty coffees are unique because the companies take the time to know exactly where their beans come from.
These details are also clearly printed on the packaging.
Where are the Beans Grown
What other issues are there in the specialty coffee vs. commercial coffee debate? Here’s another distinction that is closely related to the above-mentioned traceability.
It is vital for specialty coffee brands to be the ability to show where the beans were grown. This includes:
The country of origin
The region
The farm
This is part of the quality control process (which will be found throughout this article), but also caters to consumers’ preferences, as buyers may prefer beans from a specific country or a particular variety.
Why is it Important?
Is it worth the effort? It does!
Coffee beans are influenced by their soil, just like many other food products. If you find a specialty coffee that has certain tones, you will want to buy it again.
