☕ Is Specialty Coffee Still… Special? And Why We’re Keeping It That Way

A few days ago, someone sent me an article titled, “Is the SCA Still About Specialty Coffee?” I clicked out of curiosity and ended up reading the whole thing twice.

If you’re not familiar, the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) has long been the guiding voice for what defines great coffee: excellence in taste, traceability, fair practices, and innovation. But lately, there’s been chatter in the coffee community, baristas, roasters, even some coffee-loving customers, asking whether the organization is losing touch with the very thing it was created to protect: specialty coffee itself.

And honestly? I get it.

But instead of pointing fingers or panicking about what big organizations are doing, I want to use this post to bring the focus back to what really matters: you, your cup, and the people behind every bean.

So… What Is Specialty Coffee Anyway?

Let’s simplify it. Specialty coffee is more than a score on a cupping sheet. It’s about intentionality at every stage:

• Beans grown in the right microclimates, harvested at peak ripeness

• Transparent relationships with farmers, not just fair, but respectful

• Roasting that highlights origin characteristics instead of masking flaws

• Brewing with care, whether it’s at a café or your kitchen counter

It’s not about being fancy or exclusive. It’s about caring enough to do coffee better.

At Win Win Coffee, that’s our heartbeat. And even if the definitions shift, our mission doesn’t.

The Real Question: What Does Special Mean to You?

One of our longtime customers, Linda from Tucson, sent us a message last month that still sticks with me:

“I used to think ‘specialty’ meant I needed a $500 espresso machine and a certificate in latte art. But after trying your Courage Blend with a simple pour-over, I realized it’s not about gear, it’s about love and care. I could taste the difference. That’s special to me.”

That right there? That’s what we live for.

“Specialty” isn’t just about scoring 86+ points. It’s about creating something worth slowing down for, something you feel in your body and heart when you sip it.

What Happens When “Special” Becomes Standard?

Here’s the thing about labels: they can lose meaning if they’re not protected. If every big-name brand can slap “specialty coffee” on their packaging without living up to the values behind it, we risk watering down what makes this movement meaningful in the first place.

The SCA may evolve, reorganize, or reprioritize, and that’s fine. But as small-batch roasters and coffee lovers, we don’t need permission to stay true to what matters.

That’s why we at Win Win Coffee don’t chase trends or shortcuts. We choose traceable sourcing, roast every batch with care, and listen to you, our community, more than any industry body.

You’ll never see us compromise just because the definition got a little blurry.

Stories from Our Side of the Roast

Last fall, we featured a limited run microlot from a tiny farm in Honduras. It wasn’t from a “big name” region. It wasn’t flashy. But it tasted like melted brown sugar and toasted pecans.

We only had 100 bags. They sold out in a week.

What made that coffee so special wasn’t just the flavor, it was the story. The farmer’s daughter had just enrolled in college for agronomy. That harvest helped pay her tuition.

You can’t taste that in a score. But you can feel it in your cup.

Keeping Coffee Honest and Joyful

If you’ve ever felt like coffee was starting to feel a little too… commercialized, you’re not alone. That’s why we’re doubling down on real relationships, transparent practices, and coffee that actually makes you feel something.

Yes, we geek out over origin notes and extraction ratios. But we also laugh at morning spills, tell our friends when a batch smells like honeycomb, and send memes about “one cup a day” turning into three.

This is your coffee community. And that’s something no organization can define or take away.

How You Can Keep Coffee Special

You don’t need to be a pro to be part of the specialty coffee movement. All it takes is:

• Curiosity – Ask where your beans come from. Try a new brew method.

• Connection – Support roasters who are transparent and intentional.

• Care – Take a few extra minutes to brew with love. Trust me, it shows.

At the end of the day, specialty isn’t a certification. It’s a feeling, of doing something with care, for the right reasons.

And here at Win Win Coffee, that’s what we’ll keep showing up for. Every single roast.

🛒 Explore our latest beans at winwin.coffee
☕ Because every cup should be a win, for you, the farmers, and the planet.