A high-quality bean known for its sweet, smooth flavour with a range of complex notes. Grows at high altitudes and is sensitive to climate changes.

A mixture of coffee beans from different regions, farms, or even roast levels. Blends are created to achieve a balanced flavour profile, add complexity, or produce a consistent taste across seasons. Many espresso blends, for example, combine beans for a smooth, rich, and full-bodied taste.

The fruit of the coffee plant, which contains the coffee beans. The cherry’s pulp, mucilage, and skin all play a role in the processing method, influencing the final flavour of the coffee. Coffee cherries are typically harvested by hand or machine and go through various processing techniques to extract the beans.

A quality rating system used to classify coffee beans based on factors like size, appearance, and defect count. Grades can vary by region, with higher grades indicating better quality. Specialty coffees, for instance, have fewer defects and meet strict quality standards.

Coffee that is mass-produced and sold in large quantities on the global market. Often of lower quality, commodity coffee is generally less expensive and lacks the unique characteristics found in specialty or single-origin coffees. Price and availability often fluctuate based on global demand and supply.

Description

Coffee from beans that have undergone a decaffeination process to remove most of the caffeine. Decaf coffee offers a similar taste experience as regular coffee but with reduced caffeine.

A coffee-sourcing model where roasters buy coffee directly from farmers, fostering closer relationships and often paying higher-than-market prices. Direct trade allows for greater transparency, quality control, and benefits to farmers, as it often bypasses intermediaries.

A sub-variety of Liberica known for its tart, fruity flavour, adding complexity to blends.

A certification program aimed at promoting better wages and working conditions for coffee farmers. Fairtrade coffee ensures that farmers receive a fair price for their crop, with additional premiums that fund community and environmental improvements.

A quality grade denoting coffee with minimal defects, offering a clean, balanced flavour profile. Fine Cup coffees are known for their sweetness, smooth body, and pleasant taste.

A highly prized coffee variety originating from Ethiopia, known for its unique floral and jasmine-like aroma with complex fruity and tea-like notes. Often grown at high altitudes, Geisha commands high prices due to its distinctive taste and challenging cultivation requirements.

A rarer bean with a unique, woody flavour profile, sometimes described as fruity and smoky.

Small, select lots of coffee from a specific part of a farm or particular variety, offering unique, high-quality beans with a distinctive flavour profile. Micro lots are often highly sought after in specialty coffee for their exceptional quality and traceability.

Coffee grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers, adhering to organic farming standards. Certified organic coffee is generally more environmentally friendly and often appeals to consumers seeking sustainable options.

The specific region, country, or even farm where the coffee is grown. Origin affects the coffee’s flavour due to factors like climate, altitude, and soil, which are referred to collectively as terroir. Single-origin coffees showcase the unique characteristics of a specific region or farm.

A hardy bean with a strong, bold flavour, often with earthy or nutty notes. Higher in caffeine and often used in espresso blends.

A coffee variety developed in Kenya that is highly valued for its resilience to drought and ability to produce high-quality beans. SL-28 beans are known for their fruity, wine-like acidity and are a common component of Kenyan specialty coffee.

Indicates coffee grown at high altitudes (usually above 1,200 meters), where slower growth produces denser beans with more developed, complex flavours.

A type of single-origin coffee that comes from a specific farm or estate, allowing consumers to appreciate the distinct flavours and characteristics of that location’s terroir.

Coffee that comes from a single location, whether a country, region, or specific farm. Single-origin coffees are prized for showcasing unique flavours specific to their origin, often highlighting terroir, climate, and processing methods.

High-quality coffee graded above 80 points on a 100-point scale. Specialty coffee is carefully sourced, processed, and roasted to bring out the best flavour characteristics. It is often single-origin and valued for its traceability, sustainability, and unique flavour profile.

Refers to the grading of coffee beans by size. Larger screen sizes indicate bigger, mature beans, which are often higher quality and provide more even roasting.

The specific subspecies or variety of the coffee plant, such as Bourbon, Typica, or Geisha. Varietals have distinct growth characteristics, flavour profiles, and environmental adaptations, all of which contribute to the diversity of coffee flavours and qualities.