What is Specialty Coffee?
So what is the actual meaning of specialty coffee? The term "specialty coffee" was first coined by Norwegian coffee importer Erna Knutsen, who used it in a 1973 Tea & Coffee Trade Journal interview to describe "beans of the best flavor" grown in unique microclimates. Knutsen, often called the "Godmother of Specialty Coffee," championed selling smaller lots to artisanal roasters based on taste, rather than bulk country blends.
Similar to wine, coffee is heavily influenced by terroir; the location, climate and growing conditions it experiences. Perhaps even more so than wine, producers try to classify and seperate their product by its microclimate. A microclimate is a specific local climate that is different than the surrounding climates of the area. It may be quite small (as little as a few square metres!), and is based on the local landscape features such as a hill, body of water, or even a cave. Micro-climates help the coffee beans to achieve a unique flavor due to the special and different characteristics of the climate.
Specialty Coffee Trade Associations
Knutsen inspired others and by the 1980s, coffee professionals formed the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA, founded 1982) and later the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE, 1998). These organisations formalised standards to identify high-quality coffee. In 2017 the SCAA and the SCAE merged to form a single organisation, the SCA.
The Specialty Coffee Association is not the only specialty coffee trade organisation. Other regionally-focused trade associations exist to represent local interests.
Asociación Nacional del Café (ANACAFE)
ANACAFE (Asociación Nacional del Café) is Guatemala’s national coffee association, founded in 1960. It leads the country’s specialty-coffee efforts and co-hosts the annual Guatemalan “Cup of Excellence” competition. Part of the Alliance for Coffee Excellence's Cup of Excellence, a program started in 1999 to honor top coffees worldwide, the Guatemalan Cup of Excellence features Guatemala’s finest micro-lots. Guatemala’s Cup of Excellence draws international cuppers and buyers, significantly raising the profile and price of award-winning Guatemalan coffees.
Specialty Coffee Association of Bolivia (ACEB)
The Asociación de Cafés Especiales de Bolivia (ACEB) was established in 2002 to promote Bolivia as a high-quality specialty coffee producer. ACEB coordinates programs to develop the Bolivian coffee sector and organizes annual specialty-coffee competitions (often held in Coroico) where international judges cup Bolivian lots. Through ACEB’s efforts, Bolivian coffees have become more competitive in international specialty markets.
Brazil Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA)
The Brazil Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA) is a nonprofit founded in 1991 by a group of local Brazillian producers. Its mission is to improve quality, technology and sustainability in Brazil’s coffee production, and it is the only Brazilian body that certifies specialty-coffee lots. In partnership with the Alliance for Coffee Excellence, BSCA launched Brazil’s Cup of Excellence in 1999 and even created a special “Cup of Excellence – Natural” contest in 2011. These initiatives have showcased Brazil’s fine coffees on the world stage and allowed winning producers to sell their lots at premium prices latitudescoffees.com.br.
Colombian Coffee Federation (FNC)
In 1927 Colombia’s coffee growers formed the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros (FNC) to represent and support them. Today the FNC is a powerful private federation (one of the largest rural NGOs globally) that handles Colombia’s coffee marketing, research, price stabilization and international promotion. It manages the famous Juan Valdez brand and a national coffee fund, guaranteeing farmers fair prices and funding quality-improvement programs. The FNC’s foundation nearly a century ago has been central to making Colombian coffee (Café de Colombia) renowned worldwide.
Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica (SCACR)
Costa Rica’s specialty association (Asociación de Cafés Finos de Costa Rica) was founded on June 30, 1993 by local growers, millers, roasters and exporters. This non-profit, membership-based group promotes Costa Rican specialty coffee and provides education and outreach across the value chain. It has organized the country’s own Cup of Excellence (“Taza de la Excelencia”) and other national contests (barista and cupping championships) to highlight quality Costa Rican coffees. By supporting producers and building a specialty-coffee culture, SCACR has helped Costa Rican micro-lots gain international recognition.
African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA)
The African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) was founded in 2000 as a non-profit, member-driven regional association. AFCA represents producers, traders and governments across 11 African coffee-producing countries. Headquartered in Uganda, AFCA’s aim is to support the fine-coffee sector by providing networking, research, training and marketing linkages across the continent. By uniting multiple East and Southern African nations, AFCA works to improve quality, sustainability and global market access for African specialty coffees.
Itzalco Fine Coffee Association of El Salvador
The Asociación de Cafés Finos Itzalco in El Salvador was created to promote “cafés diferenciados” (high-end coffees) from El Salvador. Itzalco has focused on improving quality standards and awareness of Salvadoran specialty coffee. The organization works with the Salvadoran Coffee Council and international partners to train farmers, cuppers and baristas.
Itzalco also co-participates in major events like the national Cup of Excellence (“Taza de la Excelencia”) to showcase El Salvador’s best coffees. Through programs like Cup of Excellence, Itzalco helps connect Salvadoran producers to global buyers and premium markets. In this way Itzalco carries on the legacy of El Salvador’s early specialty movement, ensuring that unique Salvadoran lots can fetch high prices and that producers receive education in processing and quality analysis.
Specialty Coffee Association of India (SCAI)
The Specialty Coffee Association of India (SCAI) is a non-profit group formed to spread specialty-coffee culture across India. Its members include farmers, exporters, roasters, baristas and enthusiasts who share knowledge to improve coffee quality from farm to cup. SCAI organizes barista and cupping competitions and educational events; notably, India’s National Barista Championship has been held annually since 2002 under SCAI’s patronage. By linking Indian producers and professionals with global specialty-coffee standards, SCAI has helped elevate the profile of Indian Arabica (and increasingly Robusta) on the world market.
Specialty Coffee Association of Indonesia (SCAI)
Indonesia’s Specialty Coffee Association of Indonesia (SCAI) grew out of a 2007–2008 initiative when a group of coffee farmers, exporters, roasters and retailers united to form Asosiasi Kopi Spesial Indonesia. Today SCAI is a membership association welcoming all stakeholders. Its goal is “Excellence in Diversity” – reflecting Indonesia’s many coffee origins – and it works to improve quality, roasting, cupping and market access. SCAI runs training programs and collaborates with Indonesia’s government (and the global SCA) to standardize specialty-coffee practices nationwide.
Asociación de Cafés Especiales de Nicaragua (ACEN)
The Asociación de Cafés Especiales de Nicaragua (ACEN) represents producers of high-quality Nicaraguan coffee. ACEN’s main mission is to place Nicaragua among the world’s specialty-coffee producers, in part by promoting direct trade between Nicaraguan farmers and international buyers. It focuses on marketing Nicaraguan micro-lots for better prices and providing education on quality. In summary, ACEN strives to brand Nicaragua as a producer of fine coffee and uses training and promotion so its members can capture premium markets.
Association of Special Coffees of Panama (SCAP)
In 1996 Panama’s specialty coffee growers organized into the Asociación de Cafés Especiales de Panamá (SCAP) in response to a dire price crash. SCAP’s formation aimed to add value to Panamanian coffee by improving quality and understanding market demands. This drive led producers to innovate: for example, they began flying international buyers into the Boquete region and in 2000 launched the Best of Panama auction competition. The Best of Panama (famous for revealing Panama’s Geisha variety) helped put Panama’s coffees on the map. Today SCAP continues to support high-altitude producers and to maintain Panama’s reputation for world-class specialty coffees.
Association of Southern Africa (SCASA)
The Specialty Coffee Association of Southern Africa (SCASA) is a South African non-profit body dedicated to quality and sustainability in specialty coffee. SCASA provides resources, training and events for the Southern African coffee community. Its members range from smallholder farmers to baristas and cafe owners. SCASA works with local and international partners to raise awareness of specialty coffee and to foster growth of the specialty sector in the region.
Asociación Mexicana de Cafés y Cafeterías de Especialidad A.C. (AMCCE)
The Mexican Asociación Mexicana de Cafés y Cafeterías de Especialidad A.C. (AMCCE) is a nonprofit founded roughly 20 years ago to unite Mexico’s specialty-coffee sector. Based in Mexico City, AMCCE supports everyone “from seed to cup”. It offers education (such as Q-Grader courses and roasting workshops), quality analysis, and runs national barista and brewing competitions. As an in-country partner of the Coffee Quality Institute, AMCCE has been Mexico’s CQI partner since 2018. Its goal is to build a loyal market for high-quality Mexican coffees by improving standards and promoting professional training.
Where can I get Specialty Coffee?
The final product of specialty coffee is usually produced by small, independent roasters. Here in Australia, you can often find local specialty coffee beans in third-wave cafes, or smaller upmarket supermarkets. The most convenient way to purchase is online - and we've got a directory of freat specialty coffee on this site. Go to our list of specialty coffee beans to begin searching.