What is Specialty Coffee?

Specialty coffee is defined by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) as a coffee that demonstrates excellence in quality and distinction across the entire value chain—from production to preparation and experience.

The SCA’s updated definition emphasizes that specialty coffee is not solely determined by a score but by a holistic approach to value, including sensory attributes, consistency, sustainability, and the impact on the people who produce and enjoy it. This definition integrates the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA), ensuring a more inclusive, standardized, and transparent evaluation of coffee’s quality and value across different contexts. 

Why does Specialty Coffee matter?

Specialty coffee plays a critical role in shaping a more sustainable and equitable global coffee industry. Aligned with the SCA’s mission to foster a thriving, equitable, and sustainable coffee sector, specialty coffee represents a commitment to quality, fair trade, and ethical sourcing. By prioritizing excellence, transparency, and innovation, specialty coffee creates economic opportunities for producers, elevates the experience for consumers, and strengthens connections between all participants in the value chain. Whether through improved livelihoods for farmers, investments in education and research, or fostering a global coffee community, specialty coffee helps ensure a better future for all involved. 

How is Specialty Coffee evaluated?

 The SCA’s Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) is a modern, comprehensive framework for evaluating specialty coffee, replacing the traditional cupping system with a more inclusive and transparent approach. It acts like a value discovery tool, focusing on quality, market alignment, and fairness to help buyers and sellers transparently assess and compare coffee attributes.

The Coffee Value Assessment: At a Glance

In 2020, the SCA began updating its 2004 Cupping System, recognizing the need for a more relevant, science-based, and transparent evaluation method. The CVA is built on an attributes-based definition of specialty coffee, ensuring assessments align with: 

  1. Enhanced usefulness for the community – Making coffee evaluation more relevant to producers, buyers, and consumers. 

  2. Congruency with sensory science – Ensuring a scientific, structured, and replicable approach to sensory analysis. 

  3. Transparency in value discovery – Providing a clearer, bias-free way for buyers and sellers to compare coffee attributes with market demand. 

Four Key Assessments

To minimize bias and offer a high-resolution view of a coffee’s value, the CVA evaluates coffee through four separate assessments:

Physical Assessment:
Evaluating the coffee’s green and roasted physical characteristics, including defect count, moisture content, and bean size. 

Descriptive Assessment:
Using sensory analysis to document aroma, flavor, body, acidity, and aftertaste.

Affective Assessment:
Measuring consumer preference and perception, capturing how different audiences experience and appreciate a coffee.

Extrinsic Assessment:
Considering factors beyond taste, such as variety, processing method, origin, and sustainability practices.

Where to start (or go next) with Specialty Coffee?

No matter your experience level, there are many ways to deepen your understanding and engagement with specialty coffee: 

  • For Coffee Professionals & Businesses:  
    Implement the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) in your operations to enhance quality control, purchasing, and customer engagement.