Specialty Coffee vs Store Bought Coffee: What You Need To Know
If you love coffee, you know that not all java is created equal. The coffee you brew at home from freshly roasted specialty grade coffee beans offers a vastly superior taste compared to the pre-ground stuff you'll find in the grocery store aisle. But what exactly makes specialty coffee like SCAA 80+ rated coffee so much better?
In this post, we'll break down the key differences between true specialty coffee and the mediocre brew you'll get from canisters of store bought pre-ground coffee.
Specialty coffee refers to coffee that is made from higher quality coffee beans and is held to stricter standards when it comes to roasting, storage, and brewing. The Specialty Coffee Association (SCAA) created a detailed system for certifying and rating coffees that meet specific criteria for quality and taste.
Coffees rated 80 points or higher on the SCA's 100 point scale are considered "specialty grade." For example, Roasted Origins Coffee Co. specializes in these top tier SCAA 80+ rated coffee beans, sourcing them from the best growers worldwide. Their SCAA certified roasts offer exceptionally flavorful and complex cups of coffee that are consistent every time.
Without fresh, high quality beans and careful roasting, brewing store bought coffee results in a flat, bitter taste. The nuanced flavors and aromas of berries, chocolate, citrus and caramel that specialty coffee offers are lost.
While pre-ground coffee is convenient, to get the best possible taste, you need to start with fresh, high quality whole coffee beans. Buying small batches of beans roasted just days prior maximizes flavor. Once the protective outer shell of the bean is cracked open during grinding, deterioration accelerates.
Grinding beans right before brewing seals in aroma and oils that produce a more complex, satisfying taste. By purchasing whole bean specialty coffee like SCA 80+ rated blends, you get access to the freshest, highest quality coffee possible.
In this post, we'll break down the key differences between true specialty coffee and the mediocre brew you'll get from canisters of store bought pre-ground coffee.
What is Specialty Coffee?
Coffees rated 80 points or higher on the SCA's 100 point scale are considered "specialty grade." For example, Roasted Origins Coffee Co. specializes in these top tier SCAA 80+ rated coffee beans, sourcing them from the best growers worldwide. Their SCAA certified roasts offer exceptionally flavorful and complex cups of coffee that are consistent every time.
Store Bought Coffee Simply Doesn't Measure Up
In contrast to the careful production of specialty coffee, the coffee you find in supermarkets is mass-produced from lower quality beans. Pre-ground coffee often sits on store shelves for months, slowly losing flavor and aroma. The grinding process speeds up staling as well.Without fresh, high quality beans and careful roasting, brewing store bought coffee results in a flat, bitter taste. The nuanced flavors and aromas of berries, chocolate, citrus and caramel that specialty coffee offers are lost.
The Benefits of Freshly Roasted Whole Bean Coffee
Grinding beans right before brewing seals in aroma and oils that produce a more complex, satisfying taste. By purchasing whole bean specialty coffee like SCA 80+ rated blends, you get access to the freshest, highest quality coffee possible.
