Specialty coffee is a term that describes coffee of the highest quality, grown under optimal conditions and harvested with great care. What sets specialty coffee apart from a "regular" cup of joe is the attention to detail, from the farm to the cup. Specialty coffee is graded on factors like aroma, flavor, acidity, and body, and must score above 80 points on a 100-point scale to qualify. The beans are often single-origin, meaning they come from a specific region or even a specific farm, which allows for unique flavors that reflect the local soil, climate, and cultivation methods. Unlike commodity coffee, where quantity often trumps quality, specialty coffee celebrates craftsmanship at every stage of the journey.
Because specialty coffee is often single-origin, each cup offers a unique taste that tells a story. Regions like Colombia, where Colores sources its beans, produce coffees with diverse flavor profiles, ranging from bright citrus notes to deep, chocolatey undertones. This focus on origin makes it possible for coffee enthusiasts to explore the world through their cup, savoring the subtle differences that terroir can bring to each roast. Specialty roasters like Colores carefully select beans that showcase the best characteristics of these regions, ensuring that every cup is a sensory experience.
One of the more innovative techniques in specialty coffee is the fermentation of beans, which can impart unique and unexpected flavors. Fermentation occurs after the coffee cherries are harvested, as the beans are exposed to yeasts and bacteria that naturally occur during processing. Some specialty coffees, like those offered by Colores, take this process further by introducing specific yeasts to enhance the coffee's flavor profile. Colores' Strawberry Sunshine and Peachy Sunrise are fermented with red wine yeast, resulting in complex, wine-like notes that add depth to the brew. While not currently in stock, Colores previously experimented with IPA Pink Bourbon that was fermented with IPA yeast, which gave the beans a distinctive hoppy and citrus-forward flavor. These fermentation methods showcase the creativity and innovation that define specialty coffee, providing coffee drinkers with unique, artisanal flavors.