Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Millions of people start their day with a cup of coffee, but not all coffee is the same. There is regular coffee, which many people drink every day, and then there is specialty coffee, which is known for its high quality and unique flavors. Knowing the difference between regular and specialty coffee can help you pick the right coffee for your taste and preference.
They both differ in many ways. Below is the explanation of how specialty coffee is different from regular coffee.
What is Regular Coffee?
Regular coffee is made from beans that are grown mainly for quantity. The focus of regular beans is to produce a lot of coffee rather than the best-tasting coffee with the best quality. The regular coffee beans are mass produced, may not be carefully, and can contain beans of different sizes and qualities.
People drink regular coffee almost every day mainly for its caffeine and energy rather than its flavor. The taste of this coffee is generally consistent but can be bitter or plain.
What is Specialty Coffee?
Unlike regular coffee, specialty coffee is made from top-quality beans that are carefully grown, harvested, and processed. Only beans that score higher points, scale by certified coffee tasters, are considered specialty coffee. These beans often come from a single region, giving them a unique flavor.
Specialty coffee does not just provide you with your caffeine dose, but it also offers you to enjoy the rich taste, aroma, and experience a well-prepared distinctive flavor.
Growing Difference
Growing and harvesting makes a huge difference in how coffee beans taste. Specialty coffee is grown in ideal conditions, usually in rich soil, and in the right climate. Farmers carefully harvest and select only the ripest. Regular coffee is often grown in larger quantities with less care and attention to detail.
The way they are grown and selected can affect the taste and quality. The careful growing and harvesting of specialty coffee beans is a big reason why it tastes so much better.
Flavor Difference
One of the main differences between specialty coffee and regular coffee is flavor. Specialty coffee has a wide range of tastes, from fruity and floral to chocolatey and nutty. Each type of bean has its own unique flavor that allows people to explore coffee with different tastes.
Regular coffee has a more standard, uniform taste that can be bitter, but specialty coffee has different flavors that make it more enjoyable. It is a treat for coffee lovers.
Price and Availability Difference
There is also a big difference in their prices and availability. Specialty coffee usually costs more than regular coffee. This is because of the great quality of beans and better harvesting system. The extra work and care increases cost. Specialty coffee is often sold in coffee shops and specialty stores.
Unlike specialty coffee, regular coffee is cheaper and widely available, which makes it convenient for everyday use. The lower prices are because of the mass production and less careful selection.