So, what is speciality coffee, and why does it matter? Most people think speciality coffee just means better beans. In reality, it’s a precise grading system that defines the highest level of quality a coffee can achieve - the top 5 % of beans on the planet.
After 15 years immersed in the UK coffee industry, training baristas, visiting farms at origin, and working with Sanremo, an Italian coffee machine brand supporting hundreds of the UK's best coffee roasters, I’ve learned that speciality coffee isn’t just a label.
It’s a discipline, a score, and a story of care at every step from farm to cup.
What Does “Speciality Coffee” Actually Mean?
Speciality coffee refers to beans scoring 80 points or higher on the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) quality scale. Each lot is evaluated by certified Q-graders for aroma, flavour, balance, sweetness, and absence of defects.
Many of my friends and colleagues are certified Q-graders demonstrating incredibly high standards of coffee education.
Only around 5 % of global coffee meets that high bar. These beans grow in optimal micro-climates, high altitude conditions, balanced rainfall, mineral-rich soils and yes, are processed with extraordinary care.
“When you cup hundreds of coffees a week, you realise that true speciality isn’t marketing - it’s measurable and unforgettable.”
-James Bellis, SCA-certified coffee professional
Learn more: Speciality vs Commercial Coffee →
The Coffee Quality Pyramid🔺
Most people only ever taste the bottom layers of the coffee world. What separates an average cup from a clean, high-performing one comes down to how beans are grown, graded, stored, roasted and tested.
After 15 years in the industry, I’ve learned that coffee quality isn’t a single label - it’s a pyramid built on precision and care at every stage.
| Tier | Type | Focus | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌿 | Clean Coffee (Healthy Coffee) | Purity, Taste + Innovation | The evolution beyond speciality. Third-party lab tested for mould, mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticides. Focused on clean energy, functional add-ons, and better farming practices - recently recognised by Forbes. Shop Clean Coffee → |
| 🥇 | Speciality Coffee | Taste + Precision | Scored 80+ on the SCA scale. Ethically sourced, traceable, and roasted for clarity and balance. Top 5 % of beans worldwide. |
| 🥈 | Organic Coffee | Natural / Pesticide-Free | Grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers for a cleaner, ethical cup. Quality can vary. |
| 🥉 | Commercial Coffee | Mass | Mass-produced, rarely tested, and often stored for months. Lower-grade beans can cause jitters and crashes due to poor processing. Compare → |
As you climb this pyramid, each tier removes more toxins, improves taste, traceability, and enhances the way your coffee makes you feel.
That’s where Balance Coffee leads - bridging the craftsmanship of speciality with the science of wellbeing through our Clean Coffee standard.
How Speciality Coffee Is Graded
The uses a 100-point cupping system to evaluate coffee quality.
The Speciality Coffee Association (SCA) uses a detailed 100-point cupping system to evaluate how speciality coffee is graded.
Certified Q-graders assess aroma, flavour, acidity, body, and balance - with only coffees scoring above 80 classified as speciality, helping to discern for quality.
| Score Range | Classification |
|---|---|
| 90–100 | Outstanding |
| 85–89.99 | Excellent |
| 80–84.99 | Very Good (Speciality Grade) |
| < 80 | Organic / Commercial Grade |
Why Is Speciality Coffee More Expensive?
Speciality coffee costs more because quality is built at every step of the supply chain. Unlike mass-market blends, it’s grown on small farms where altitude, soil, and climate create exceptional flavour complexity.
High-altitude regions, such as Ethiopia’s Sidamo, Colombia’s Huila, and Guatemala’s Antigua, produce denser beans with richer sweetness and acidity.
These farms often yield less coffee overall, but every cherry is hand-picked and meticulously by coffee farmers dedicated to picking, sorting and processing - to avoid defects.
Beyond farming, roasters like ourselves pay a premium for traceability, direct trade, and ethical wages, ensuring farmers reinvest in soil health and infrastructure.
In short: you pay for precision, transparency, and a coffee experience that reflects genuine craftsmanship.
Is Speciality Coffee Healthier?
Speciality coffee already offers cleaner flavour and better farming ethics, but health depends on purity.
Beans stored too long or processed poorly can harbour moulds and mycotoxins, leading to jitters, fatigue, and energy crashes.
At Balance, every roast is independently lab tested to confirm it’s free from contaminants - so each cup supports steady focus and sustained energy.
Read Healthy Coffee vs Speciality Coffee →
The Clean Coffee Movement
Our mission is to raise the bar beyond flavour - merging craft + coffee science to deliver coffee that fuels wellbeing.
Every batch is tested for mould, mycotoxins, and pesticide residue, meeting standards that exceed the SCA baseline.
Shop Speciality Grade Coffee →
How to Brew Speciality Coffee at Home
You don’t need to spend a fortune on barista gear to get almost café-quality results, just the right fundamentals.
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Grind size: Match grind to method (fine for espresso, coarse for French press) This is crucial.
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Ratio: For 1 cup, use 15–17 g coffee per 250 ml water for balanced extraction.
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Water: Filtered water at 92–96 °C preserves clarity and sweetness.
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Freshness: Grind immediately before brewing to capture volatile aromas.
Each brew method highlights something different. For example, espresso amplifies body, while pour-over reveals origin character.
If you’re unsure where to start, explore our Coffee Brewing Guides.
Where Speciality Coffee Comes From
Speciality coffee begins long before roasting, in high-altitude farms where climate, soil, and care determine everything. Most premium Arabica is grown between 1,200 and 2,000 metres above sea level, where cooler air slows ripening and naturally develops sweetness and clarity.
The best-known origins include Ethiopia, where heirloom varietals offer jasmine and bergamot notes; Colombia, known for its balanced caramel sweetness; and Guatemala, where volcanic soils create rich chocolate and citrus tones.
Fun Fact: Colombia and Kenya are my favourite coffee growing regions.
Emerging regions like Rwanda, Uganda, and Peru are now producing micro-lots that rival traditional powerhouses, proving speciality coffee is a global craft of passion and precision.
At Balance Coffee, we only work with farms that score 80 + on the SCA scale and follow clean post-harvest practices, ensuring every cup supports both quality and ethics from origin to roast.
Best Speciality Coffee Beans in the UK
Looking to experience the best speciality coffee beans available in the UK?
I’ve personally reviewed and ranked some of the country’s top roasters, from London micro-roasteries to nationwide brands - in our updated 2025 guide.
During my time at Sanremo UK, I worked directly with hundreds of the country’s leading roasters, helping them refine espresso quality and roasting profiles. That hands-on experience shaped how I evaluate each roaster today.
Every recommendation in the list focuses on freshness, SCA score, and ethical sourcing, highlighting what makes a coffee truly exceptional.
👉 Read: 11 Best Speciality Coffee Beans London UK (2025 Guide) →
FAQs
What is speciality coffee?
Coffee scoring 80 + on the SCA scale for taste, balance and traceability.
Is speciality coffee healthier?
When lab-tested for toxins and mould — yes.
Where can I buy speciality coffee in the UK?
Directly from ethical, tested roasters like Balance Coffee →
Final Take
Speciality coffee represents the peak of craft and care, but Clean Coffee is its next evolution: lab-verified, functional, and designed for modern energy needs.
It’s coffee without compromise: pure fuel for clarity, focus, and calm productivity.
