What Sets Craft Coffee Apart from Regular Brews?

Craft coffee, also known as artisanal coffee, is a term used to describe the entire process of growing, sourcing, roasting, brewing and serving coffee with a strong focus on quality, flavour, and sustainability.

Many factors are involved in creating craft coffee, including the quality and origin of the beans, the grind’s coarseness, the temperature of the water, the equipment used in brewing, and more.

The Fundamentals of Craft Coffee

1. The Beans

Craft coffee typically uses single-origin beans from regions known for their exceptional produce, such as Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, and Guatemala. These beans are often selected for their unique flavour profiles that reflect the region’s characteristics.

2. The Roasting Process

Roasting is an art in itself, usually done in small batches to maintain control and bring out the beans’ best characteristics. Roasters carefully adjust time and temperature to highlight the natural flavours of each bean.

3. The Measuring Method

Precision is key in craft coffee. Every step is meticulously measured and recorded, from the roasting process to the grind size. Experimentation and note-taking help ensure consistent, perfect results.

4. The Brewing Technique

Once the beans are roasted and ground, brewing becomes the final stage where the magic happens. Different appliances and methods, such as pour-over, French press, Aeropress, or cold brew, are used to extract the best flavours from the coffee.

Unlike mass-market coffee, which blends beans from various sources to maintain a uniform flavour “profile,” craft coffee emphasises the uniqueness of its origin. Some craft coffee can even be traced back to a specific region, town, family farm, community lot, or hillside with its own unique microclimate and sunlight orientation.

Sustainability and Environmental Focus

Craft coffee often emphasises sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, such as:

• Shade-Grown Cultivation: Protecting ecosystems and encouraging biodiversity.
• Organic Farming: Avoiding harmful pesticides and chemicals.
• Regenerative Farming: Replenishing soil and fostering healthier ecosystems.

These practices preserve the planet while ensuring the long-term viability of coffee production.

A Celebration of Quality and Artistry

Craft coffee is more than just a beverage; it’s a celebration of quality, sustainability, and artistry. Each cup tells a story of care and dedication—from the farmers who cultivate the beans to the roasters and baristas who bring out their best qualities. It’s a reminder that coffee, when made with love and attention to detail, can be a truly transformative experience.

If you are interested in tasting for yourself the different flavours to be found in a “blend” versus a single origin coffee, why not try our Colombian Huila alongside an Espresso Smile or Espresso Grin?