Being interested in coffee, I talk to a lot of people about coffee and their approach to it. One of the things that surprises and interests me the most, is how different someone’s perception of a good cup of coffee can be from mine. More specifically, when I start talking about coffee, I am taken aback when someone steers the conversation towards “Gourmet Coffee.” I am not a coffee snob and I don’t mind what coffee you drink or what you put in it. I have and do drink coffee in the bottom tiers of quality on occasion. That being said, gourmet flavored coffees are unpalatable to me, I can’t bring myself to drink them. I’m not mad at you if that is what you like, I’m just not going to drink it. This of course begs the question, what is gourmet coffee and how does it differ from Third Wave coffee like the coffee sold by Angel’s Cup?

Defining Some Terms

When trying to understand the differences between gourmet coffee and Third Wave coffee, it helps to have a base definition of each. Here is the “view from 30,000 feet,” brief fly-over of a few of the common terms. Gourmet coffee- This term is actually a little up for interpretation. It doesn’t have a specific meaning in itself but it does have a connotation. As a general rule of thumb, if a roaster is referring to their coffee as gourmet, you can probably expect these things:

• There will be a heavy emphasis on flavored coffee
• They will probably describe their coffee as having a “shelf-life” or expiration date (15 months on one website!).
• The majority of the coffee will come out of extremely large coffee farms in Brazil.

There is no set standard for gourmet coffee, it is more-or-less a marketing term that can be used at the discretion of the roasting company. Specialty Coffee- This term was first used in 1974 by Erna Knutsen as a way of differentiating a segment of coffee away form the “Gourmet Coffee” label. Specialty coffee is defined as being rated 80 points or more on the 100 point coffee grading scale. There is a governing organization, The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), that monitors quality and standards of specialty coffee. Third Wave Coffee- This term is refers to a smaller segment of specialty coffee. It is a group of roasters, cafes and consumers that view the process of roasting, brewing and drinking coffee to fall into the artisanal and specialty foods category. Coffee is more than a commodity to this group. With Third Wave coffee you can typically expect sourcing from small farms, single origin coffees and lighter roasts. There will be an emphasis on coffee being consumed fresh, as well as, roasting in a way that highlights the origin characteristics and processing method of the coffee.

Three Important Differences

Besides the obvious differences that can be seen from the basic definitions of the terms, there are a few other differences that should be noted. Although some of it applies to gourmet coffee in general, these differences focus on gourmet flavored coffee as I believe this is the greatest misrepresentation of the word “gourmet.”

Flavored Coffee versus Coffee with Flavor

Support for gourmet coffee comes from a fundamental misunderstanding of coffee and coffee flavors. There is a general misconception that coffee tastes bad and we need things (sugar, flavoring, whimsically named creamers) to make it drinkable. Third Wave coffee is good on it’s own merits, without additives. A good cup of coffee has all sorts of interesting and delicious flavors both subtle and not so subtle. Coffee can have a natural sweetness, an enjoyable complexity or creamy smoothness (take a look at this coffee tasting chart). Do not underestimate the potential of a quality coffee. As with most food related tastes, artificially flavored coffee is no match for the natural flavors that a quality Third Wave coffee can have. Don’t opt for “Blueberry Pie” gourmet coffee. Search out coffee that has blueberry in the tasting notes.

Chemical Process Versus Natural Processes

One of the things I love about coffee is the roasting process. Did you know that you can roast coffee at home? You cannot, however, roast gourmet flavored coffees at home. The chemicals used for such a process are too dangerous to sell to an average consumer. (They typically use propylene glycol… yikes!) The processing that a coffee goes through to produce it’s natural flavors are, as you may expect, 100% natural. The country of origin and how it was picked and processed impact the flavors immensely. Don’t spoil your morning ritual with an unappetizing mixture of coffee and flavoring chemicals.

Mega Farms Versus Micro lots

Most coffee for gourmet flavored coffee comes from large farms in Brazil. These giant coffee plantations use the most convenient (cheapest) methods for growing, harvesting and processing your coffee. This means you are getting an inferior product and the roaster has no choice but to add flavors or over-roast the coffee in order to make it “palatable.” A great majority of Third Wave coffee comes from small farms. In many cases, there are people and organizations working with these farmers to improve their coffee crop. These small farms typically expend tremendous amounts of effort to maintain, grow and harvest their product. The results of their efforts are small lots of unique coffees, prized for their flavors and quality.

Give Third Wave Coffee a Try

There are other things that differentiate between “Gourmet” coffee and Third Wave coffee but I hope you can see that there is huge quality gap between the two. Whether you are searching for a coffee for yourself or as a gift, I want to encourage you to consider Third Wave coffee (Angel’s Cup is also now available on Amazon). You can, of course, drink whatever you like but don’t be fooled by the marketing gimmicks. Gourmet is a term that is often associated with connoisseurship and quality. Gourmet coffee is typically not either of those things. If you are looking for a relentless pursuit of quality and craftsmanship, Third Wave coffee is where you want to be.

When you think of California, you immediately think of wine, surfing, and Hollywood. But did you know that California is filled with talented specialty coffee roasters? You can do a caffeine crawl from Napa all the way down to San Diego. Here are some notable ones you should check out, and our favorite beans!

 

1. Verve Coffee Roasters

One of the leaders in the third wave coffee movement, Verve is transforming coffee drinking into an extraordinary daily ritual. The guys at Verve are committed to giving an authentic experience. They have a beautiful new space in Melrose that's worth checking out. Don't miss their Kenya beans, it is fantastic and has a super complex flavor profile from watermelon, peach, and bubblegum.

 

2. Entimos Coffee

Two coffee guys from Portland brought together by good coffee, and a couple years later Entimos Coffee was born. They love what they do and their passion is reflected in every cup. Our favorite from them by far is their Kenya from last season. Top notch cup where you get lots of peach, cranberry, and apple!

 

3. Augie's Coffee Roasters

This little red building house the coolest guys and delicious coffees in SoCal. Augie's love the coffee adventures they have and want to share it with all of us. They are meticulous about their coffees and is all about teaching you to see the hidden glories of each cup. The Guatemala Hunapu is excellent. It is rich, nutty and sweet, almost like you are eating some peanut brittle.

 

4. Holy Schmidt Coffee

This husband and wife team is doing some amazing stuff with coffee. Everything about Holy Schmidt is clean, modern, and beautiful like their website and Instagram feed. Try their Ethiopia Sidamo Natural. It is a blueberry and Fruit Loops bomb in your mouth!

 

5. Insight Coffee Roasters

Sacramento is getting a dose of some great coffee thanks to Insight Coffee Roasters. They are committed to educating people about good beans and work hard to bring the best in their cafes. Their new cafe is in a beautiful space, perfect place to enjoy their comforting and delicious brews.

 

6. Barefoot Coffee Roasters

One of the pioneers of Direct Trade Roasting, the Barefoot team travel to origins a lot to build relationships with the farmers and producers. They hand select the best and most breath-taking coffees they could find to bring back home. Try their Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Kochere. It is juicy and taste like sweet, succulent honeydew and peaches and berries come out when it cools. Yum!

 

7. The Westbean

Located in gorgeous San Diego, The Westbean Coffee Roasters are spreading the coffee love to SoCal with delicious single origins and showing people that black coffee is indeed colorful and complex. Check out their Papua New Guinea beans right now. It has fall spices shining through, nice and chocolatey with a hint of hickory.

 

8. West Coast Roasting

Nate and Melissa were one of the first third wave coffee roasters in Los Angeles. They have been roasting every batch by hand way before all the other third wave roasters popped up. They take pride in the process and are doing some good for the world by donating part of the proceeds to the International Medical Corps. The Tanzania Kanji Lalji Farm they offer is sweet with brown sugar, spices, and stone fruit. It is like you are eating a fresh baked peach or plum pie!

 

9. Four Barrel Coffee

Four Barrel is definitely a favorite and one of the best in California, and they have die-hard, dedicated customers. They take coffee very seriously, from the process of choosing the right beans to roasting. The team's roasting style highlights the best qualities of each bean so that we can enjoy a great cup every time. Go to one of their beautiful cafes and enjoy a cup of Ethiopia Biftu Gudina. Like a nice bouquet of flowers, strawberry and cherry pop tarts, with hints of peach soda. Delicious!

 

10. Portola Coffee Lab

Roaster of the Year 2015, this husband and wife team have been doing some great work from sourcing coffees, building lasting relationships with farmers and handcrafting the beans intricately to serve the very best. What you taste in every cup is the hard work of everyone involved from the farmers to the talented roasting team.

 

11. Ritual Coffee Roasters

Another favorite among coffee enthusiasts, Ritual Coffee Roasters started the coffee revolution in San Francisco. To this day, their careful process is unchanged and seek to continue changing peoples lives through coffee. Don't miss their organic Hama Ethiopia. You'll enjoy a cup filled with floral notes like lilac and jasmine, with hints of white grape.

 

12. Honey Co.

Nestled in beautiful San Luis Obispo, Honey Co. was started by Jon and Sara Peterson. They strive to offer a range of coffees that everyone can love and enjoy. The duo is still involved in every step of the business, from production to roasting and they are really stepping up the coffee game in this quaint town.

 

13. Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters

Wrecking Ball Coffee is quickly becoming San Francisco's most recognizable specialty coffee roaster these days. They have a top notch team and are known for amazing service in their cafe. Visit their space and enjoy a cup of their Guatemala Huehuetenango, one of their most elegant and sophisticated offering.

 

14. Equator Coffee

Equator Coffee & Tea has been around since 1995 and the brainchild of Brooke McDonnell and Helen Russel. Brooke and Helen knew that they had to translate the hard work of the coffee farmers all the way into our cup by striving to roast the best way possible and bring out the great characteristics of each bean. Don't miss their Panama Elida Estate Natural a rich coffee with flavors of plums and brandy. Also check out the elusive La Esmeralda Gesha and Rusty's Hawaiian Natural!

 

15. Temple Coffee

Temple Coffee Roasters is another great one in Sacramento that always has fantastic offerings and high rated coffees. They seek to form a strong coffee community through education and serving consistently great coffees. Step into their cozy modern space and have a cup of their Panama Don Pepe Gesha, it will rock your world!

 

Want to try more coffee?

Angels' Cup is an online coffee tasting club where subscribers get to blindly sample up to 208 different coffees per year, from over 100 top 3rd wave roasters. Small samples sizes mean you get to sample more coffees for less money. Tasting flights start at only $8.99!

Join Angels' Cup Today!

We all know the Chemex as a delicious, simple, and beautiful coffee maker. Nothing makes a Chemex happier than brewing up a delicious batch of coffee. Which is why we regret to inform you that Chemex abuse has increased 94% in the last 12 months. Sticking flowers in your Chemex might look nice, but it's almost as cruel as putting a betta fish in a lily vase. Just look at these atrocities!

1. Someone call the police.

2. NSFW

3. Didn't your mother teach you any manners?

4. This is harder to watch than a Tyler Perry movie.

5. This is actually a beautiful arrangement, no jokes.

6. Somewhere in the forest, a fairy just lost its wings.

7. This is illegal in every state except Colorado and Maine.

8. This is what it feels like to be held back a grade.

9. Don't jump!

Studies show that 9/10 cases of Chemex abuse are the direct result of running out of good coffee, and we can reduce the incidence rate of flowers in a Chemex by 96.5% simply by consuming one natural process Ethiopian coffee per week. If you or someone you know is in need of excellent coffee, consider a subscription to Angels' Cup! Tasting flights start at $8.99 and include 4 different single-origin coffees. It's a guaranteed way to make sure flowers never end up in your Chemex!