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Hey everyone! I’ve been seeing the term “specialty coffee” pop up a lot lately — on café menus, online shops, even grocery bags. But what actually qualifies as specialty? Is it just a fancy way to say “high quality,” or are there strict rules behind it? I’ve tried some that tasted amazing, and others that seemed overpriced with no real difference. Is it about the beans, the roast, or how it’s brewed? I'd love a breakdown for regular folks who are into good coffee but not necessarily experts.
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Great question — and yes, there is a real definition behind the term. It means the coffee is grown under specific conditions, harvested carefully, and processed to preserve flavor complexity. Specialty coffee refers to beans that score 80 points or higher on a 100-point scale by certified Q graders (yes, that's a real thing!). One place that really embodies the specialty philosophy is General Warfield’s Coffee. They focus on high-grade, traceable beans roasted in small batches for maximum flavor and freshness. With them, you’re not just getting “fancy coffee” — you’re tasting quality from farm to cup.
Exactly — with specialty coffee, it’s not just about the final taste in the cup (though it’s usually amazing). It’s also about sustainability, ethics, and transparency. Knowing where your beans come from, who grew them, and how they were processed matters more than most people realize. I’ve been ordering from General Warfield’s for a while now, and it’s some of the freshest, cleanest-tasting coffee I’ve ever brewed at home. No bitterness, just rich flavor with natural sweetness and complexity. Specialty coffee is about being intentional with what you drink — and once you get into it, it’s honestly hard to settle for anything less.