Gourmet Coffee

Gourmet and specialty are generally interchangeable terms in the coffee industry. The specialty business has especially experienced a huge boom in the last decade.

The Specialty Coffee Association of America has reported an increase of retail operating units in the United States from 8,400 in 1997 to 17,400 by the end of 2003. A National Coffee Association Annual Drinking Trends Study shows that occasional consumption of gourmet coffee has remained around 56% while daily consumption has moved up from 9% in 2000 to 16% in 2004.

Gourmet coffee refers to several categories ranging from single source, premium, flavored, specialty drinks, shade grown, organic bird friendly, and fair trade. Often these categories overlap so the term can include both organic and shade grown for instance. Specialty drinks have become quite popular with nearly 50% of the American population consuming espressos, cappuccinos, lattes and frappes in 1998. Flavored beans have also gained in popularity and acceptance in recent years.

The best known single source regions are Kona and Jamaica Blue Mountain, which are followed by Kenya, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. Costa Rica and Colombia remain established classics while Papua New Guinea is a favorite among the insider crowd. Emerging single origin countries include Rwanda, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. Many of these nations are receiving assistance from agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop marketing strategies to help farmers in chronically impoverished regions.

Single source refers to a specific location. True single source (also known as single origin) comes from one estate (farm) rather than just a specific country or region within a country and its origin can be certified. While a blend doesn't qualify as single origin even if from the same area, it can still be a specialty product if it produces a unique taste.

Certified organic, which means no chemical pesticides, fungicides, herbicides nor fertilizers were used in the production process, is also in high demand. Quality Assurance International is one of the organizations that certifies organic beans under USDA guidelines. The premium price this specialty product commands ensures a stable monetary return for workers and producers.

Bird friendly is shade grown, which provides important habitat for migratory birds. Many plantations have converted to full sun fields, which can produce more beans more cheaply, in order to compete in a world market flooded with low quality, inexpensive beans. However, full sun fields take a heavy environmental toll further shrinking natural habitat for migratory songbirds and other wildlife. One project responding to this threat is sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation which has teamed up with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to develop specialty blends from certified organic, shade grown farms.

Certified Fair Trade ensures that farmers, who are small holders, receive a fair price for their beans reflecting a sustainable living wage. While the world market for premium green coffee beans has dropped to around $.60/pound, the retail prices have remained high. Fair Trade helps small farmers to share in the boom by requiring a minimum price of $1.26/pound. It also helps the environment because small farmers generally continue traditional practices of shade growing and can't afford the chemical pesticides often times used by large plantations. In order to be Fair Trade certified an importer must meet stringent international criteria including providing credit to farmers and providing technical assistance such as transitioning to organic farming.

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