Specialty Coffee Factoids*
Specialty coffee is defined as a coffee that has no defects and has a distinctive flavor in the cup.
- Specialty coffee, a term that refers to the highest-quality green beans roasted by true craftspeople, is
- surprisingly affordable. One cup costs about 24 cents (based on 50 cups/lb @ $12/lb) ---making it cheaper
- than bottled water.
- Everyday, Americans drink more than 300 million cups of coffee; 75% of those cups are home-brewed.
- In 2005,15% of the adult American population enjoyed a daily cup of specialty coffee.
- Like wine and honey, specialty coffee has a unique flavor thanks to the micro-climates that produce it.
- In 1683, one pound of coffee in New York was worth as much as four acres of land.
- To be considered truly fresh, coffee should be ground right before brewing and brewed within three to seven days of roasting.
- Surprisingly, a 1 oz. espresso contains less caffeine (approx. 40 mg) than a regular 8 oz. serving of drip
- coffee (approx. 85 mg). In fact, in the espresso brewing method, water is in contact with the grounds for only
- 20 to 25 seconds and extracts less caffeine than methods that put water in contact with the grounds for several minutes.
- Strong-tasting coffee has no more caffeine than its weak-tasting counterpart. Caffeine contributes no taste; it's a product of the type of bean, water-to-coffee ratio, and brewing method.
- Seventy percent (70%) of the world's coffee production is the Arabica species.
- Thanks to some popular commercials, most of us believe that coffee originated in Colombia or Brazil. Not so; it originated in Ethiopia.
- The global coffee industry employs more than 20 million people.
- It takes approximately 42 coffee beans to make an average serving of espresso.
Standard References: International Coffee Organization www.ico.org; National Coffee Association Drinking Trends Study www.ncausa.org
About the SCAA
Founded in 1982, SCAA is the world's largest coffee trade association with over 3,000 member companies. SCAA members are located in
over 40 countries and represent every segment of the specialty coffee industry, from coffee growers to coffee roasters and retailers. The
SCAA's mission is to be the recognized authority on specialty coffee, providing a common forum for the development and promotion of coffee
excellence and sustainability. The SCAA's dedication to excellence in coffee is realized through the setting of quality standards for the
industry; conducting research on coffee, equipment and perfection of craft; and providing education, training, resources and business services
for members. The SCAA's annual conference is held in a different U.S. city each year and is the coffee industry's largest gathering and
exhibition.
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