Artisanal coffee is the artisan style of roasting and brewing coffee. Beans are harvested in much like the same fashion as wine grapes at various ranches across the world, with particular soil and even specific elevations in mind. To ensure none of the taste is lost, the artisanal coffee beans are handled with great care.
It can be compared to specialty coffee (more on that later) because it focuses on quality and sourcing, but artisanal coffees are more about artistry than they are about production. The artisan process requires a lot of manual labor, and it takes time to produce a cup that meets artisan standards.
Note: Many people use the term “artisanal coffee” to describe artisanal foods also.
How Artisanal Coffee Is Made?
Artisanal coffee roasters use very specialized equipment and techniques to make their blend of artisanal coffees. First of all, they source coffee beans from some of the world’s top coffee-growing regions such as Brazil, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, and Colombia. Some artisanal roasters only experiment with different flavors, while others roast them in a way to highlight what makes each type unique.
Roasting is not an easy process; it requires tons of experience practicing on smaller batches before moving on to larger ones. While some individuals enjoy drinking artisanal coffee for its taste, there are also health benefits associated with this beverage which has helped drive up demand among consumers today.
Artisanal roasted coffees have been shown to contain more antioxidants than non-artisanally varieties due to the longer duration these beans are roasted for. In addition, artisanal coffees also contain less caffeine due to the lower roasting temperature used by artisanal coffee roasters compared to those who roast specialty beans at high temperatures.
What makes artisanal coffee so special?
Again, artisanal coffee is artisanally roasted and brewed. It isn’t mass-produced like other coffees (where coffee is just collected, dried, roasted, and consumed, with no further thought); instead, it is carefully crafted by hand using special artisan techniques to produce a unique product that has the quality of artisan-made goods.
This type of coffee usually comes from small roasters (not large corporations) who pay attention to every step of the process to ensure they are creating the highest quality product available. Coffee connoisseurs will definitely want this type of coffee because it tastes better than what you would find at your local grocery store or at a fast-food chain restaurant!
Artisan Coffee vs Specialty Coffee; What’s the difference?
- Artisanal coffee is made with high-quality beans at a small roastery, while specialty coffee comes from larger roasters that use a higher quantity of beans to create the same taste profile.
- Artisanal coffee generally takes more time and effort than regular commercially roasted coffees available in stores. It costs more money for the customer as well due to lower volume production.
- Artisan’s flavors tend to be subtler than commercial brands with more robust flavor profiles, so they are easier on people who don’t want their beverages too strong or bitter tasting.
- The term ‘Artisan’ is all about preserving the old ways when specialty means increasing control and automatization, stability in general.
Best Artisanal Coffee Brand
Honestly, several brands out there offer first-grade artisanal coffee, but one that is particularly well-known in this area is Intelligentsia.
Formed in 1995, Intelligentsia was one of the first artisan coffee roasters, pioneering the Direct Trade coffee movement by establishing personal connections with the growers of their beans—as well as helping to popularize the notion of “in season” coffee. This Los Angeles- and Chicago-based roaster continues to provide compelling, expressive roasts of a wide range on a monthly basis. You can also visit one of their cafés in NYC, LA, or Chicago if you’re in town.
Espresso lovers may try one of their top-selling Black Cat Espresso Blend. The components of this espresso blend change throughout the year depending on what’s fresh and delicious.
Final Notes
It’s no surprise that artisanal coffee has been making a comeback. With the emergence of third-wave coffees, often made from high-quality beans roasted at small roasters and sold as single-serving cups or bags to be brewed on-demand, consumers have more options than ever before for quality brews.
Smaller roasteries around the world typically employ traditional methods like slow roasting and batch brewing. At the same time, larger companies use newer technologies like flash roasting to create their drinks with less time and effort required. These differences in production translate into higher costs for customers who buy smaller quantities of artisanal products compared to buying ready-made specialty coffee from big brands – but you’ll find that these flavors tend to be more complex and less bitter. Depending on your tastes and preferences, you can choose from artisanal coffee or specialty coffee.
Happy Caffeinating!
Taimoor followed his passion to become a coffee connoisseur and now travels the world to visit the most popular coffee shops. His cupboard is also stocked with a collection of brewing gadgets. He loves to drink Death Wish Coffee’s dark roast and highly caffeinated coffee grounds when he needs a boost of energy.
