What is Specialty Coffee
Specialty coffee is the top tier of coffee quality. It’s known for its smooth, balanced flavor and clean finish without that harsh bitterness you might find in commercial roasts. These beans are usually roasted in small batches and sold fresh. Delivering a cup with more depth and character. Grown in high-altitude, tropical regions, specialty coffee is also sourced through ethical practices like fair trade and direct trade, which support both farmers and the environment.
If you’re already deep into your coffee journey or just starting, specialty coffee offers an elevated caffeination experience.
What Qualifies as Specialty Coffee?
To earn the title of “specialty,” coffee beans must score 80 points or more on a 100-point scale. This grading is done by certified Q Graders. These professional tasters evaluate aroma, flavor, acidity, body, and defects. Only beans that pass this rigorous test are graded specialty.
At Common Roots Coffee Company, our head roaster Luke Rock is a CQI-certified Q Grader. He uses those same standards in our process, making sure each roast is in the top quality tier.
How We Source Our Coffee
We exclusively use ethically sourced, specialty-grade beans from Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico. Our sourcing approach puts sustainability and fair trade first. We partner with small farms that are fair trade certified, Rainforest Alliance members, and are often organic and female-owned. Many also focus on water conservation and apiary-friendly practices.
By paying a premium for these beans, we help small, independent farmers compete without relying on mass production. Unlike commercial coffee, which often uses chemical-heavy sun cultivation, our farms grow shade-grown coffee in healthy ecosystems that preserve biodiversity.
Every bag of green coffee we roast is handpicked with care. We evaluate origin, processing method, and flavor potential with guidance from our green coffee partners, like Covoya Coffee. This lets us consistently deliver coffee that tastes great and reflects our values.
Our Roasting Approach
When a new variant of green coffee arrives, we start small. A 100-gram test roast helps us fine-tune for flavor before we move to larger batches. The pilot batch allows us to make educated adjustments and dial in the roast before scaling up. Perfecting the roast of new variants is paramount in bringing out the best character representation for the roast.
We look to develop the bean’s natural sweetness, build a satisfying body, and create a balanced, low-acid roast. The goal? Perfecting the roast to deliver a cup that’s smooth, and easy to enjoy though any brew method.
Small Batch Coffee
While all of our coffee products start with high-quality specialty beans, our Small Batch Coffee series takes things a step further. Launching in the coming weeks, this rotating lineup will highlight carefully selected single origin coffees sourced from distinct growing regions around the world. Each roast is handcrafted in small quantities by our team in Glens Falls, ensuring maximum freshness and precision.
We dial in the roast level to bring out the unique flavor profile of each bean—whether it’s a bright and citrusy Ethiopian or a rich, chocolatey Colombian. If you’re looking for fresh roasted coffee beans with real character, our Small Batch Coffee offerings are an excellent way to immerse yourself in the world of specialty coffee.
What About Cold Brew?
That same attention to detail carries over into our canned cold brew. We work with McManus, a co-packing partner that uses cold chain packaging to preserve roast quality. This lets us design roasts specifically for cold extraction, bringing out a smooth, sweet profile with low acidity.
The cans are also pasteurized, making them shelf-stable without sacrificing taste. You can pour one over ice or sip it straight from the can and still get that fresh-roasted character we’re proud of.
Ready to Try Specialty Coffee?
Whether you’re curious about specialty coffee or looking to shake up your usual routine, we’ve got you covered. Order online anytime, or stop by the Flagship Taproom, the Café at the Bierhall & Barrelhouse, or our Albany Outpost. You can also find our coffee at local Market 32 locations.
No matter where you pick it up, you’re getting coffee that’s thoughtfully sourced, skillfully roasted, and ready to enjoy.
