The Rise of Specialty Coffee: How Small Roasters are Changing the Game 

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and over the last decade or so, specialty coffee has been on the rise. With small roasters popping up all over the country, it’s no wonder that specialty coffee is becoming increasingly popular. Let’s take a look at what makes specialty coffee different from regular coffee and how small roasters are changing the game. 

What is Specialty Coffee? 

Specialty coffee is a high-quality product that goes beyond just brewing beans with hot water. In order to be considered specialty, a coffee must meet certain criteria. These criteria include things like flavor profile, bean quality, and origin of beans. A professional cupper—someone who evaluates the taste and aroma of coffee—must determine that its overall score meets the requirements set by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). While some large companies rely on cheaper beans from mass producers in order to maximize their profits, smaller businesses often source more specialty Arabica beans from countries like Ethiopia and Colombia — which offer a range of complex flavors not found in mass-produced coffees. This allows them to create truly unique blends that stand out from what’s available from larger companies. 

The Role of Small Roasters 

Small roasters play an integral role in providing quality specialty coffee to consumers. By utilizing their unique skills and knowledge, small roasters are able to source high-quality beans from carefully selected farms around the world and roast them to perfection. This process requires careful attention to detail in order to ensure that each batch is consistent and flavorful. By doing this, these small roasters are able to bring consumers something that they can’t get from mass-produced coffees.  

These small roasting companies often provide more than just great-tasting coffee; they also offer educational resources for customers so they can In many ways, small and independent coffee roasters are changing the game when it comes to producing high-quality coffee. Unlike larger, corporate roasting companies, small businesses are able to create custom blends that cater to their customers’ individual tastes. They can also experiment with different flavor profiles, giving them an edge in creating unique offerings that appeal to all kinds of coffee drinkers. And because small businesses don’t have large overhead costs like big-name brands do, they can offer more competitive prices for their products — something that’s always appealing to customers on a budget. 

Specialty coffees have become increasingly popular over the last few years thanks largely in part to small roasting companies around the world who strive for excellence when sourcing beans and perfecting their roasts. These passionate individuals are dedicated to providing customers with unique flavors and experiences that you won’t find anywhere else, as well as educational resources so customers can learn more about different types of coffees and brewing techniques. If you’ve never tried specialty coffee before, now is definitely a great time. So go ahead and explore your local options – you may just find your new favorite cup.

As I sourced the info for this article, I found a couple options to start roasting my own beans at home. Not for selling, but it could be fun to tune my own preferred taste. Please note that if you purchase from clicking on the link, I will get a tiny bit of that sale to help keep this site going.

Retro Espresso Cups… just what the new kitchen ordered

We are always hunting around for the ‘latest’ in retro or vintage looking coffee items. There aren’t many of the old favorites being reproduced so when I find something the whole household gets excited. While we have a nice collection of items on shelves and on the table for looking at… you know, ‘atmosphere’, what we really want is items we aren’t afraid to use. It’s a whole house of clumsy fingers so anything of value is put out of reach.

Last weekend we found these ‘vintage’ looking espresso cups. The site they are offered through was a new find for us as they sell all kinds of retro items that are made today in yesteryear’s designs. Sadly, we have to wait for these little cups and saucers just a bit longer as they are out-of-stock. The site, Retro Planet , does have many other fun items to look through till the cups come back into inventory.

Retro Planet says:

* Made of Designer Stoneware
* Microwave and Dishwasher Safe
* Includes 4 Cups with Matching Saucers
* Includes 1 Cup and 1 Saucer of Each Color:
– Light Green
– Light Blue
– Orange Red
– Brown
* Cup Measures: 3 Dia. x 2H inches, Holds 4 oz.
* Saucer Measures: 4.5 Dia. inches

Fun with Coffee Art… yup, there is an app for that

When a friend told me about the Caffeine tracker app for my iPhone, I spent some time looking around and found a fun Coffee Art app. A glance around the internet finds many food sites that show how creative people can be with their coffee art.

There are books and YouTube videos on how to do those fun bits of art too. All of which are great when sitting on the couch, but when in the kitchen or on the go, you need an app for that. I found one! The iPhone app is called Art of Coffee. And, as the name implies, the application shows you step by step how to create an extra dimension to your morning express0. If not for you, it’s a nice thing to do for someone else you might be pulling a shot for.

The Art of Coffee is only about creating a visually pleasing presentation and not about the actual action of pulling a shot. That said, there is coffee and milk tips in the app, but the 30+ pour instructions are the reason to take a look. Use Art of Coffee for a few tips then choose a design and learn step by step how to make bits that jump out of the cup.

From the software creator:

The designs in the Art of Coffee are divided into two sections and listed as follows:
Essential Art: Chasing Hearts, Four Leaf Clover, Dotted Flower, Seagulls, Etched Rosettas, Simple Heart, Layered Heart, Cradled Heart, Rosetta, Hanging Heart, Rosetta with Heart, Tulip, Smiley

Advanced Art: Butterfly, Ghost, Rabbit, Monkey, Pig, Dragon, Seahorse, Fish, Cowboy, Double Heart, Heart within a Heart, Swan, 6 Leaf Tulip, Double Rosetta, Phoenix, Rosetta with Double Heart, Wreathed Heart, Rosetta with Tulip, Double Heart Double Rosetta.

 

 

Martha Stewart plus New Coffee Filters = Holiday Fun Craft

Martha Stewart to the rescue for the holidays. A particularly great idea if you just went from a drip coffee maker to a single cup pod machine… what to do with all those paper filters up in the kitchen cabinet. Why not make a holiday wreath out of them?

The project is actually pretty quick and takes the filters, something to poke the holes with, a bit of ribbon, a paper plate (read the directions, you can substitute for different size wreaths) and a glue gun… the ever crafty ‘glue gun’. She frowns on people taking her plans from her sites and books, so the next step is to jump over to her site and see the ‘very’ simple instructions. The only age restriction is the need for the hot glue gun… maybe a kids glue stick could be used, will have to play with that.

 

Espresso with the speed of a puck machine but still real frothed milk!

You love the speed of a puck coffee maker but don’t like the ‘pucks’ of so called milk. You enjoy espresso but have a time keeping fresh beans in the house. If this describes you, I have a find you will be interested in. Personally, I was excited.

Illy has several pre-packaged coffee ‘pucks’ options. Their new style, I have mentioned here before are little plastic single use Capsules. And, the long term solution are their E.S.E pods, which are individually wrapped coffee in what looks like filter material. The E.S.E Pods can be purchased from a variety of stores and online suppliers. E.S.E Pods come in Medium, Dark and Decaf.

Their new machine, Mitaca POD1 Espresso Machine, uses these E.S.E Pods. And also has a milk frothing steam nozzle! This is big if you like the speed of the k-cup style machines but don’t want to use the ‘milk’ pucks like in the Tassimo or Dolce machines. The manufactures make an attempt at filling the need of frothed milk but it tastes very different from the milk in your fridge. Interesting enough, from the circle of friends I chatted with about the new Mitaca POD1, they all found it easy to keep fresh milk on hand but difficult to store and grind beans for a quick espresso or cappuccino.

The Mitaca POD1 has the option of the monthly service too. Currently, the machine is just under $400 dollars, but if you go for the monthly coffee delivery option they sell you the machine for $175 US. They also throw in four of their Illy espresso cups on the monthly package.

Particulars from the IllyUSA site:

  • Electronic low water level alarm
  • Steam nozzle makes frothing milk easy
  • Hot water dispenser
  • Adjustable tray for small and large cups
  • Automatic pod ejection
  • Aluminium thermoblock
  • Pump pressure: 18 bars
  • Water tank: 50.7 ounces
  • Weight: 8.6 lbs.
  • Available colors: Red, and Silver

Measures: 8.6” w x 11.4” d x 10.2” h