Third Wave Coffee: How We Got Here and Why It Matters
Posted by Verve Coffee Roasters on July 16th, 2021
If you’re a coffee lover, becoming familiar with the first, second, and third waves of coffee and what they’re about is a must. Recognizing the distinctions between the coffee “waves” and knowing how to identify the products of each can mean the difference between a fine and truly exceptional cup of coffee. It’s also about standards of quality, sustainability, and how buying coffee can make a difference, from the consumer to the producer.
The First Wave of Coffee: Coffee as a Commodity
First wave coffee is exemplified by the big name brands you’ll find in the coffee aisle in the supermarket. The first wave of coffee could be considered to have begun with the Boston Tea Party. It was characterized by the industrial coffee production that established coffee’s availability and popularity globally. First wave coffee is widely considered the antithesis of the small-batch artisanal fare offered by third wave online coffee roasters. First wave coffee is infamous for being dark roasted to the point of bitterness. Unfortunately, the “coffee as an industrial commodity” model is also known for exploiting the people and economies in the world’s coffee-growing regions, most of which are in developing nations.
The Second Wave of Coffee: Rise of the Flavored Coffee Drinks
If first wave coffee conjures associations with big brands in the coffee aisle, second wave coffee should evoke sweet, flavored coffee in a to-go cup picked up at a drive-through window. There’s no question that the second wave of coffee improved upon the first. Second wave giant coffee chains served to revitalize coffee shop cafe culture and at least began to acknowledge details like the country of origin for some of their products. However, the focus was, and remains, on splashier coffee drinks with a variety of added flavors, while the coffee itself still tends toward the heavily roasted and bitter. The second wave coffee brands can now be found, often in greater numbers, alongside the first wave brands on supermarket shelves.
The Third Wave of Coffee: An Artisanal and Sustainable Movement
The third wave of coffee is a game-changing approach to virtually every element of the coffee industry. It is about recognizing coffee’s versatile and unique artisanal potential rather than treating it like a homogenous industrial commodity. Third wave coffee is also likely to be a lighter roast than the alternatives to accentuate high-quality coffee’s natural tasting notes. The core of the third wave of coffee movement focuses on sustainably sourcing exceptional coffee via direct trade relationships with small farmers. Paying a premium rate for premium coffee supports farmers and economies in developing nations, promotes sustainability, and contributes to the support and protection of special, unique coffee cultivars and varieties. In addition to being a more conscientious and constructive model, the third wave means a practical benefit for coffee lovers: extraordinary coffee. Find a third wave coffee roaster from which you can order coffee online to experience how uniquely delicious third wave coffee can be.
About Verve Coffee Roasters
In 2007, college friends and devotees of all things coffee, Ryan O’Donovan and Colby Barr, founded Verve Coffee Roasters in California. They did so to promote and share the exceptional potential of coffee locally and globally. The Verve Coffee Roasters team approaches coffee the same way they do life—with love, conscientiousness, and passion. Whether you order a coffee subscription from Verve Coffee Roasters or visit one of their cafes, you can expect artisanal small-batch perfection. Verve Coffee Roasters purchases their first-rate coffee via direct trade relationships benefitting local economies and small farmers in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Ethiopia, and beyond. Take your coffee experience to the next level with responsible, sustainable, and sublime coffee from truly independently-owned third wave coffee roaster Verve Coffee.
Experience everything third wave coffee can be with Verve Coffee Roasters at https://www.vervecoffee.com/
Original Source: https://bit.ly/2U906M3
