What is a special coffee (and what makes it different from others)?

Who can resist an invitation to take a break and have a special coffee? It's not the everyday one, just to wake up in the morning, but a more elaborate one, 100% Arabica.

This name, in fact, refers to the journey that the coffee took until arriving in Brazil . This is because its consumption became popular in Ethiopia (Africa) and gained prominence in Saudi Arabia, where the name “arabica” comes from, which refers to the most consumed species.

Its mild flavor and aroma seduce fans of the drink. But what is the difference between special coffee and others? We explain below.

What is specialty coffee?

Special coffee (or specialty coffee) is coffee made with Arabica beans and which has above 80 points in the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) classification, which goes up to 100.

Considered a high quality coffee, it has controlled origin, is made with noble beans and its production is certified as environmentally and socially sustainable.

Because of its qualitative attributes, it has a significant extra market value when compared to traditional coffees.

Even so, the consumption of specialty coffees grows 15% per year, according to a 2021 survey by the Cerrado Coffee Growers Federation.

What is considered a specialty coffee?

The attributes evaluated for a coffee to be considered a special type are fragrance and aroma, uniformity, bitterness, acidity, body, balance, residual flavor (aftertaste) and absence of defects.

To achieve a score according to these criteria, coffee must be produced with ripe fruits, known as cherry beans, due to their reddish color.

After drying, cleaning and selecting, the beans are sent to a sensory analysis laboratory, to then be roasted.

The coffee growing region also indicates whether the coffee is special. In Brazil, specialty coffees come from plantations located 800 to 1500 meters above sea level.

Mountains in the south of Minas Gerais, the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, the north of Paraná, the Alta Mogiana region, in São Paulo, the plateau and the west of Bahia are regions where special coffee is produced.

How do you know if coffee is special?

To know if a coffee is special, it is necessary to observe the following characteristics: coffee color, flavor, aroma and certified packaging.

Special coffee has a reddish or caramelized color, a flavor with sweet and smooth notes, which generally resemble fruits, flowers, honey, nuts, chocolate and caramel.

Furthermore, it is possible to identify a specialty coffee by the certifications that appear on the label and/or packaging, such as the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association seal.

And what is the difference between special and traditional coffee?

There are many, and they start with the selection of grains. In the case of special coffee, the beans are selected, uniform and without defects.

For traditional coffee, beans are used that may have defects and impurities, as they do not undergo rigorous selection like special ones.

Another difference is the flavor. Traditional coffees have a more acidic flavor and greater bitterness than special coffees, which are mild.

Color is also a characteristic that differentiates them. Ready-made special coffee has a chocolatey and translucent color, while traditional coffee is black and opaque.

Understand the difference between gourmet and specialty coffee

Gourmet coffee is the coffee certification given by the Brazilian Coffee Industry Association (ABIC) for high quality coffees, made with selected beans and controlled roasting.

According to ABIC, these are rare, fine and exclusive coffees, leaving a delicate and smooth taste in the mouth. These coffees have a Global Quality rating from 7.3 to 10.

Specialty coffee goes through another type of classification, as seen previously, and is also of higher quality than traditional coffee.

Where to buy? Check out tips from Body food

Do you know where to buy this type of coffee on the body food app? It's simple: open the app and click on “Search” in the bottom left corner of the screen. Then, type “specialty coffees” and select from those shown in the results.

You can also make this purchase in markets that are in the app. In the top right corner of the home screen, click on “Markets” and, in the search field, type “specialty coffees” to find out what is available.

Special coffee beans

To find specialty coffee beans, go to the search field and type the term “specialty coffee beans”. The items available in your region will appear.

Cafes, bakeries, emporiums and markets are the ideal places to buy specialty coffee beans.

See how to store it correctly

There are correct and incorrect ways to store this type of coffee. Here are some tips on how to do this, according to the Unique Café barista.

The great villain in coffee is oxygen, which accelerates the oxidation process, causing changes in flavor. Therefore, avoid using a pot for coffee.

When removing the special coffee from its packaging and placing it in a pot, it will come into contact with oxygen, causing it to lose its characteristics.

Therefore, the ideal is to leave the coffee in the original packaging, which is prepared for proper maintenance, with a laminated film inside and a valve to release oxygen and seal.

After opening the package, close it tightly with the seal, press well to release the oxygen and, if possible, use an elastic band to wrap the entire package.

Once this is done, store the package tightly closed in a jar with a lid.

An incorrect way is to store this coffee in the refrigerator, as this causes it to absorb the taste of other foods, such as onions and garlic. Additionally, it can absorb moisture.