The specialty in coffee has been called traceability based on the “special” treatment of each of the processes that coffee takes from harvesting to becoming a roasted bean, but little is said about what determines a coffee shop specialty.
It is for this reason that in this article the 3 pillars that make up a specialty coffee shop are mentioned. Many have confused this mention by using a high-scoring coffee at any point of sale, but a place selling (85+) coffee does not make it a specialty coffee shop.
The 3 pillars that make it up are the following:
Concept: this allows us to know the creativity and added value that identifies the cafeteria, makes it unique and also provides an environment based on that concept.
For example: An industrial cafeteria designed with metal pipes on the ceilings that hints at the theme or an old house that tells a story through its photos or furniture.
Barista: the coffee, as it has been carefully prepared in all its phases until it reaches the roast, the person who translates all these characteristics is vital for the exhibition of flavors. In this type of cafeteria, you must not only be a barista, but you must also have high knowledge of roasting and cupping, this because you must be the one who controls the quality and flavor of the roasted coffee that enters your inventory and who can identify anomalies in the flavor.
Coffee: the raw material and essential base of the cafeteria, it is the most important pillar and consists of complete traceability and a minimum note under cupping. This is to offer its customers the best quality and that this is direct from the producer.
These types of coffees regularly come from micro batches that have been developed specifically for coffee shops and that seek to maintain a constant flavor throughout the year, and in addition to the fact that their beneficiation process varies according to the tastes of customers, each year there are more. benefits that are innovating in new processes to satisfy customer tastes.
Author: Jonathan Ramírez – ICAFE Barista Trainer
