Specialty Coffee: The Story of Coffee and Its Revolutionary Development - What Stages Has It Experienced?

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From Necessity to Luxury: Three Waves of Coffee Revolution Transforming the Coffee World with an Intelligent Surge

In the era of drinking canned coffee, the excitement of pulling out instant coffee, the brewing moments at water dispensers with unsteady water amounts... Looking back at all those coffee-drinking times, savoring coffee, feeling the aroma... Suddenly, we realize that coffee has quietly advanced toward the milestone of the fourth wave revolution—a brand new face evolving from popularization to sophisticated technology.

First Wave Coffee Revolution – The Magical Beverage Blended with Hot Water

King Clement VIII of France once said: "Although it is the devil's drink, it is delicious." Tracing back to World War II, coffee was widely used as an energy drink to keep soldiers alert. Later, this habit was brought by soldiers into daily life, and the trend of drinking coffee officially emerged. It was no longer a culture exclusive to nobility, which also promoted the vigorous development of instant coffee, making it a very popular mass beverage at that time. That feeling was like tasting coffee for the first time—sour, bitter, and sweet, but with coffee flavor. Drinking along meant keeping up with the trend.

The main focus of the first coffee wave was "it's coffee." Varieties, textures, flavors, origins... etc., were not yet valued. However, this rise was a very important indicator—coffee had clearly become a household beverage. To this day, major hotels and inns still place instant coffee in guest rooms for visitors to use. This was truly a development with immense influence!

Second Wave Coffee Revolution – Coffee Shops are King

The renowned chain coffee shop Starbucks was established in 1971, opening a new chapter for coffee. Starting with coffee itself, it was fused with syrups, creams, spices, and various seasonings, creating many wonderful sparks. It also brought popularity to Italian coffees like lattes and cappuccinos. Sipping coffee in a space filled with coffee aroma, communicating with people, was completely a novel social experience that subverted tradition. Everyone gradually realized that coffee was part of life, and life became much more romantic with coffee. This gradually led to the massive rise of coffee shops, sweeping the world.

Unlike the supply-demand relationship of the first wave, the second wave of coffee pursued something more like an accessory chosen to enhance quality of life—akin to unique taste and vision, casual but not careless.

Third Wave Coffee Revolution – Specialty Coffee, A Five-Sensory Experience

Coffee has gradually become part of life. Some people drink coffee in the morning, others at night. Even those without the habit of drinking coffee can almost smell the aroma of coffee on the streets. Decades have passed, and everyone has gained a deeper understanding of the overall context of coffee.

Modern people often treat coffee like a designer handbag, valuing origin, vintage, processing, bean characteristics, variety, texture... even the final service perception. Thus, the third wave of coffee, completely different from the first two, was born—"Every cup of coffee has its top, middle, and base notes, and every cup of coffee has its unique story."

From roasters adjusting roasting time according to bean characteristics, to baristas emphasizing water temperature and brewing methods based on beans, allowing each coffee's unique flavor to be perfectly expressed. Combined with the definition of specialty coffee—those scoring above 80 points through cupping—it creates an unprecedented taste experience! Also because coffee trends have gradually moved from mass-market to sophistication, in the past one or two years, coffee leader Starbucks has begun small-scale transformations. Some stores target the specialty market with high-end Reserve Stores, emphasizing various specialty coffee beans interpreted through suitable preparation methods to present different coffee flavors, allowing coffee enthusiasts to fully engage their five senses and enjoy a high-quality, premium experience!

Fourth Wave Coffee Revolution – What Hasn't Happened Doesn't Mean It Won't Happen in the Future

In the 21st century, an era led by technology toward the future, accustomed to online shopping and inclined toward fast yet quality consumption patterns, this has further driven the significant growth of two industries—delivery and automation. No need to spend commute time, just tap your fingers, and excellent brewing equipment, quality-certified coffee beans and powder can all be delivered to your home. No need to buy air tickets, just press a switch, and you can enjoy coffee with the exclusive techniques of world coffee champions!

The yet-to-be-defined fourth wave of coffee continues to ferment in this intelligent world. Technology, humanities, and craftsmanship will be integrated—baristas' techniques will be completely preserved, no need to worry about coffee flavors changing due to human factors. Consumers can also more freely and widely enjoy a cup of good coffee! Technology might be formulaic, but it won't make users feel cold. On the contrary, it's like having a dedicated barista right in front of you. From the process of drinking coffee, combined with real-time online coffee knowledge and barista backgrounds, it directly saves time and costs. Wanting to enjoy top-level professional coffee service is no longer difficult! This completely aligns with today's fast, decisive, and accurate daily principles. Amidst a busy schedule, you can still have time for a cup of good coffee, settle your mood, and start again!

A Diverse New Face is Rising

Coffee is the second largest raw material market after oil. Like red wine and tea, it emphasizes the flavor of its origin. One factor changing can alter the overall taste, making it a field truly worth exploring! Arabica and Robusta, regardless of which is specialty and which is common, have both been participants in historical witness.

Instant coffee is about trends; coffee shops pursue quality; specialty coffee brings premium experiences; and intelligent coffee will gather diverse advantages such as trends, quality, five senses, service, AI, professionalism, and convenience. Through technology, it allows people to enjoy more primitive and beautiful coffee flavors.

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