What is Specialty Grade Coffee?
☕ What Is Specialty Grade Coffee?
Not just a trend. it's a better way to enjoy your favorite drink.
🌱 Specialty Coffee: More Than Just a Buzzword
You might’ve seen “specialty grade” on our labels or social feeds. But what does it really mean?
Specialty grade coffee is the top-tier classification awarded by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). To qualify, a coffee must score 80 points or higher on a 100-point scale based on expert evaluation of aroma, flavor, balance, body, and more.
> ✅ Fun Fact: Less than 10% of coffee worldwide meets the criteria to be called “specialty grade.
🔍 How Is Specialty Coffee Scored?
Professional coffee testers, called Q Graders, follow a strict process known as cupping. They grade each sample based on:
Fragrance & Aroma
Acidity
Flavor & Aftertaste
Balance & Sweetness
Defects (there shouldn’t be any!)
Only coffees that shine across all categories make the specialty cut.
🌍 From Farm to Mug: The Specialty Coffee Journey
Here’s what sets specialty coffee apart at every step:
☀️ Growing Conditions
Specialty coffee grows in high-altitude regions with rich soil and consistent climates, ideal for developing complex flavors.
✋ Harvesting
Instead of machine-harvested crops, these beans are hand-picked at peak ripeness. Precision matters.
💧 Processing
Whether it's washed, natural, or honey-processed, specialty beans go through careful post-harvest techniques that preserve quality and nuance.
🔥 Roasting
Roasters like our partners at Temecula Coffee Roasters create custom roast profiles for each origin to bring out the best in every bean.
❤️ Why It Matters
Specialty grade isn’t just a label, it’s a reflection of values:
Better pay for farmers
Farmers of specialty beans are often paid well above commodity prices for their higher-quality work.
Sustainability
Specialty coffee farms often use eco-conscious practices, from soil conservation to water management.
Transparency & Traceability
You can often trace specialty beans back to a single farm, co-op, or even farmer. No mystery blends here.
🐾 How Roebling & Roo Does Specialty
Every roast we sell is made with 100% specialty grade beans.
Sploot Roast (our flagship) features beans from Chimbu Province, Papua New Guinea.
Sweet Prince honors Harambe with rich, chocolatey depth featuring beans from Uganda.
Seven Hills celebrates Cincinnati with a bold, classic profile featuring beans from Guatemala.
Each roast supports our mission to help animals in need. With every cup, you're fueling real impact.
☕ Taste the Difference
Specialty coffee isn’t about exclusivity, it’s about excellence, ethics, and a better way to start your day. Once you’ve tasted it, there’s no going back to the average grocery store brew.
Try one of our specialty roasts today and drink coffee that cares and gives back!
