Specialty coffee: What is it and how is it changing the world?

Do you know what specialty coffee is?

These days, it's not uncommon to hear about specialty coffee. If you're someone who enjoys visiting your city's coffee shops, you've probably noticed that many have already begun offering it to their customers. But what's so special about it, and why are baristas so proud to use it? Well, today we'll tell you why and everything you need to know to value those coffee beans that enhance an entire value chain.

Get comfortable, because we're going to go a little deeper into this topic. Oh, and if possible, make yourself your favorite coffee! We've already made ourselves a delicious Huma Origen .

Specialty coffee is high-quality, with a distinctive flavor and unparalleled aromas. It reflects the collaborative work of producers, roasters, baristas, and end consumers.

Specialty coffee is almost synonymous with perfection, as to be considered as such, it must undergo several processes and strict quality controls. According to the Specialty Coffee Association, it must achieve a score of 80 or higher, on a scale of 100.

As a consumer, it's important to know the origin of the coffee you're consuming. Where the beans come from, what type of processing they've undergone, etc. That's why traceability is essential in specialty coffee, and part of this involves seeing the coffee growers' work up close, talking with them, and seeing how their planting and harvesting are developing, depending on the climate and altitude.

The dedicated and admirable work performed by specialty coffee pickers. They are largely responsible for the perfection of the beans. Pickers must only harvest red cherries (the fruit contained in coffee beans) that are free of defects and at their peak ripeness.

In many cases, commercial coffee brands ask pickers to collect all types of cherries—green, yellow, and often even spoiled—with quantity more important than quality. But this is changing thanks to specialty coffee. Fair trade, a crucial practice throughout the value chain, although the pickers' work is now more difficult and the quantity of cherries is smaller, is recognized with fair payment for the extra effort they put in.

It's not just about considering the quality of the coffee beans; it's also about paying the price or more for the farmers' work, ensuring their lives are more wholesome. It's about caring for the environment, promoting equal opportunities for men and women, and so on.

Processes carried out with all the necessary care, such as drying at a precise time; roasting, which is an art form to achieve and enhance the aromas and flavors that a specialty coffee can possess; the baristas who prepare the coffee, preserving all the work that began in the field and that can now be reflected in the cup. And of course, the consumers who choose it, appreciating and feeling proud that the specialty coffee they consume is Ecuadorian.

It's not just excellence, but also the support you provide to an entire value chain that strives daily to create something special and, above all, to honor the reputation of an entire country.

Yes, there's still a lot to do; but for those of you who took the time to read this article, we want to tell you that together we can continue to create significant change in the world by being part of a culture of appreciation, love, and respect for Ecuadorian coffee.

What coffee are you going to drink from now on?

By: Samantha Jijón Gagliardo - Co-founder of the digital marketing agency Tecnologic Site, based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Lima, Peru. Content manager and creator of the blog "En Construcción," a writer and contributor to various media outlets in Latin America.
@SamiGagli