The Speciality Coffee Association and speciality coffee grading
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is the global authority on coffee quality. They set the standards for what makes a coffee ‘speciality’ and use a 100-point scoring system to grade beans based on factors like flavour, aroma, and balance. Any coffee that scores 80+ is considered ‘speciality’.
But while an 80-point coffee is technically specialty-grade, it’s on the lowest end of the scale. It’ll taste clean, be free from major defects, and be better than commercial coffee – but it might still be a little flat, lacking complexity or excitement.
Many speciality coffee roasters will offer coffees that score 80 as their minimum. But we don’t feel like this is good enough. That’s why our minimum is 84 points, which means:
- more pronounced flavours like chocolate, citrus, or berries.
- sweetness, acidity, and body are more refined, creating a smoother, more enjoyable cup.
- a longer-lasting impression where enjoyable flavours evolve and linger over time.