If you’re in the habit of drinking coffee, chances are at some point you’ve tried a common supermarket coffee and a quality coffee at a good café. And for those who don’t know, there are many differences between specialty coffee and traditional coffee.
We’ve already discussed some of them here on the Consciência blog, but in this post, we’ve broken everything down for you to easily tell these two coffees apart! Check it out in the following sections!
Traditional Coffee: The One in Our Daily Routine
Most Brazilians have coffee as part of their day-to-day lives, whether to start their day, during work breaks, or to welcome guests!
But the coffee that’s typically found in Brazilian homes is the one we find at the supermarket — the most widely sold coffee, what we call traditional coffee.
Generally, it has a larger-scale production and its beans can be mixed between species and quality levels.
And often, to disguise all this blending, it ends up being over-roasted, giving it a darker color and a stronger flavor.
Traditional coffee may contain beans from both the robusta and arabica species, as well as impurities (twigs, leaves, etc.).
In short, all this large-scale production and shortcuts during the process make this coffee inferior to specialty coffee.
Specialty Coffee: The Darling of Coffee Shops
On the other hand, we have specialty coffee, which many people experience at coffee shops, since the beverage tastes better when the bean has been recently ground and roasted.
After all, not everyone has the means to grind coffee beans at home or knows how to do a proper roast.
But that’s precisely one of the main characteristics of specialty coffee — its entire process from origin, cultivation, and roasting all the way to your cup is quite artisanal.
This already indicates the superior quality that specialty coffee presents. As a result, the beverage can offer unique sensory experiences.
In general, specialty coffees are 100% arabica species and receive scores above 80 points (on a scale up to 100) in the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) classification.
- Learn all about specialty coffee in this article:
Specialty Coffee vs Traditional Coffee: Main Differences
Just by explaining each one, you can already notice some of their differences, right?
But let’s list the main points that differentiate them here, so you can visualize them better.
Bean Origin
Specialty coffee cultivation gives preference to seedlings that have good origins and are traceable, so that the final consumer knows where the plant came from.
Altitude
Specialty coffee, which is 100% arabica, generally develops better at higher altitudes, while traditional coffee can come from plants that adapt to lower regions.
And the higher the altitude, the more minerals the bean receives, which influences the final flavor and aroma of the beverage.
Cultivation
Specialty coffee production is done in the most organic way possible, with great care to avoid diseases and the use of fertilizers.
Harvest
This is a more manual and artisanal phase — the coffee needs to be at the right point of maturation and should not be picked from the ground. This differs from traditional coffee, which uses all fruits and beans.
Roasting and Preparation
The final phases of specialty coffee likewise receive maximum attention. The roast must be done in a way that best explores the bean’s aroma and flavor.
And the choice of beverage preparation also takes the same criteria into consideration.
On the other hand, traditional coffee opts for dark roasting, making the coffee more bitter and less full-bodied, in an attempt to cover up the lack of bean quality.
Variety
While traditional coffee has a more limited variety, specialty coffee can be chosen by origin (Brazil, Colombia, etc.), by roast, by flavor, among other options.
Sensory Experience
Traditional coffee will always taste the same — you already know what to expect from it, which can be good or bad depending on your point of view.
With specialty coffee, there’s always something new in the flavor. Depending on the coffee you choose, it can be more fruity, floral, with notes of chocolate or caramel — there’s an infinity of senses to explore!
And You, Which Coffee Do You Prefer?
Whichever coffee you prefer, specialty or traditional, both have their place for coffee lovers.
However, specialty coffee has been increasingly winning over Brazilians in recent years. It’s sought after by those who prefer higher quality coffee, more sustainable options, and those looking for more intense sensations in their beverage.
And Consciência Café is here for just that — to help you explore every flavor note that comes from specialty coffee!
Just come to our coffee shop and we’ll introduce you to various bean varieties and preparation methods for you to enjoy great specialty coffee!