Why is specialty coffee more expensive? Here's the real reason

Introduction: Is specialty coffee really worth the price?

About If you've ever stood in a coffee shop and compared the prices of regular coffee and specialty coffee, you've probably noticed the big price difference. A bag of specialty coffee can cost double or even three times more than mass-produced coffee in the supermarket.

But why is that? Is it just a fancy marketing ploy, or are there real reasons behind the price? The answer is that specialty coffee is more expensive for good reason – and when you know why, you'll understand that it's actually more affordable than regular coffee.

In this article, we go through the most important factors that affect the price of specialty coffee and why it is an investment in quality, sustainability and better working conditions for coffee farmers.

Specialty coffee is grown under better and more sustainable conditions

Unlike mass-produced coffee, where farmers are often pressured to maximize yields at the expense of quality, specialty coffee is grown with great care.

☕ Carefully selected coffee beans – Only the best beans are selected, which means smaller harvests but higher quality.

🌱 Sustainable farming methods – Specialty coffee farmers often focus on shade cultivation, organic methods, and biodiversity to protect both nature and the taste of the coffee.

👨‍🌾 Better working conditions for growers – Instead of paying extremely low prices per kilo, specialty coffee growers provide fairer compensation and better working conditions for their employees.

👉 What does this mean for the price? Specialty coffee requires more work and investment from farmers, which drives up the price – but also improves both taste and shelf life.

Specialty coffee is handpicked and selected for the best quality

In industrial coffee production, coffee berries are often harvested by machine without sorting out the ripe ones from the unripe ones. The result? A coffee that contains defective and substandard beans that negatively affect the taste.

Specialty coffee, on the other hand, is hand-picked by skilled workers who carefully select only the perfectly ripe berries. The beans then undergo multiple quality checks to ensure that only the best beans reach the roasters.

👉 What does this mean for the price? Handpicking and quality control take time and require skill, which increases the cost of production.

Fairer payment to coffee farmers – no exploitation

Commercial coffee is often sold through middlemen and large players who drive prices down to the absolute minimum. This means that coffee farmers in developing countries often earn less than one kroner per kilo of coffee, making it Aboutpossible for them to invest in better farming methods or live off their work.

Specialty coffee, on the other hand, is often purchased through direct sales or fair trade models, where farmers receive fair prices for their work. This allows them to:

💰 Invest in better coffee production

👨‍👩‍👧 Improve living conditions for their families

🌱 Grow coffee more sustainably

👉 What does this mean for the price? Paying a higher price for coffee means that farmers receive a living wage, which improves the entire coffee industry.

Specialty coffee is roasted on a small scale to preserve flavor and aroma.

The amount of roasting time and temperature play a huge role in how the coffee tastes.

• Industrial coffee is often roasted in large quantities in a short time, which leads to many flavors being burned away and the coffee having a bitter and flat taste.
• Specialty coffee is roasted in small batches and with great precision, which highlights the unique flavor notes in the beans.

Many Swedish specialty coffee roasters, such as Johan & Nyström, Lykke Kaffegårdar, Swerl Coffee and Drop Coffee, use methods where each coffee variety is roasted individually to highlight its full potential.

👉 What does this mean for the price? Small-scale roasting costs more per kilo than mass production, but provides a superior taste experience.

Specialty coffee is fresher and has higher traceability

Most industrial coffees have been in storage for months or even years before they reach the store, resulting in an old and boring coffee that has lost much of its aroma.

Specialty coffees, on the other hand, are roasted in small batches and sold quickly after roasting. You can often find the exact roasting date and origin on the packaging, so you know where and when your coffee was produced.

👉 What does this mean for the price? Specialty coffee is a perishable product and requires faster logistics, making it more expensive than regular coffee.

Is specialty coffee really more expensive? Or is regular coffee just too cheap?

It's easy to think that specialty coffee is expensive, but in reality it's regular coffee that is unnaturally cheap due to mass production, exploitation, and low quality standards.

When you buy a bag of specialty coffee, you pay for:

✅ Better quality and taste

✅ Sustainable cultivation and environmental consideration

✅ Fair wages for coffee farmers

✅ A more responsible coffee industry

Ultimately, it's about About What you prioritize. Do you want a coffee that's just cheap, or do you want a coffee that tastes amazing and makes the world a little better?

Conclusion: Specialty coffee is an investment in quality and sustainability

Yes, specialty coffee costs more – but that's because it's produced in a way that's fairer, more sustainable, and more flavorful.

About If you're a coffee drinker who values taste and responsibility, specialty coffee is worth every penny. So the next time you're comparing prices on coffee – think not just about what it costs in money, but also about what it costs the planet and the people behind each cup.

What do you think? Is specialty coffee worth the price?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments! Do you have a favorite roastery or a tasting experience you want to share? ☕✨