When it comes to purchasing a cup of coffee, your options are truly endless. You can brew your own coffee at home or chances are high you have several coffee shops in proximity to you or wherever you may be headed.
Today, you are likely flooded with coffee options that range in price, quality, and overall experience. Our society’s continued fondness for coffee has made it a staple part of any community and many people have it as a staple part of their daily routine.
Societal views, opinions, and tastes towards coffee have changed drastically over the years. If you dive into the history of coffee you will get a lesson in the different waves of coffee. We are now in the third wave of coffee, though many coffee companies, suppliers, and brands are still in the first or second wave.
Never Heard of The Third Wave Coffee Movement?
Even if you have never heard of the term “third wave coffee” you have probably at least sensed a movement within the coffee industry. A third wave coffee shop values coffee quality, origin, appreciation, and sustainability. These specialty coffee shops are beloved by devoted customers who value these points of distinction, as well.
Are you supporting a third wave coffee shop? By choosing to purchase your coffee at one of these shops, not only will you have a more enjoyable experience, with higher quality coffee, but you will be helping support coffee farmers and make an impact around the world.
Looking to make the switch? Here are some of the benefits of supporting a third wave specialty coffee shop like Seven Corners Coffee in Minneapolis.
Higher Quality Coffee
Quality of coffee is one of the most important values in specialty or third wave coffee. From the farmer growing the plants and picking the best coffee cherries to milling done in-country and expert roasting processes, there are no shortcuts allowed.
We believe every step of the coffee harvesting and brewing process is important and should be done to the highest of quality. First time customers of specialty coffee shops are usually surprised they can taste the difference in quality compared to other chain coffee shops.
The Q system is a 100 point scale developed to analyze the quality of coffee. Only coffee with a score of 80 and above can qualify as specialty coffee and we take pride in serving specialty qualifying coffee’s in our shops.
Sustainability
Third wave coffee shops value sustainability which means when you support our shops you are making a difference in our local community and helping our environment globally.
7 Corners Coffee is striving for sustainability by supporting other local Minneapolis companies. Additionally, we are helping plant trees in the Kibira Rainforest through the Long Miles Coffee Project.
Third wave coffee shops also make a point to use recyclable and reusable products wherever possible.
Ethical Direct Trade
When you support third wave coffee companies you are supporting a movement toward more fair and ethical trade. Historically, coffee farmers have been undervalued and underpaid parts of the coffee supply chain, working in harsh or unsafe conditions, barely making a living wage.
We are on a mission to change this through transparency in relationships throughout the whole coffee supply chain. Our Coffee can be traced back to the farm where it was grown.
This is supporting an ethical, sustainable coffee economy where everyone is treated and paid fairly.
Innovation
The third wave coffee movement can be boiled down to a new coffee experience. Gone are the days where coffee was just about getting an energy boost and people didn’t care how it tasted or where it came from.
We care about every step of the process from farm to your coffee cup. We are always striving for ways to improve quality, create new flavors, and enhance the coffee experience of every single one of our customers.
By supporting our specialty coffee shops in Minneapolis and Eden Prairie not only will you be improving your own coffee experience but you will be contributing to the betterment of lives of coffee farmers around the world and helping create a more sustainable coffee economy for the future. Cheers to that!
