Most people think coffee is just coffee. It’s not.
There’s a massive difference between commodity coffee and specialty coffee — and that difference is one of the most powerful tools we have for helping Colombian farmers leave coca behind.
What Is Specialty Coffee?
Specialty coffee is coffee that scores 80 points or higher on the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) 100-point scale.
These scores are given by certified Q-graders who evaluate the coffee on aroma, flavor, aftertaste, acidity, body, balance, and overall quality. Anything below 80 is considered commodity-grade. Anything 80+ is specialty.
At Cocaine Coffee, every coffee we sell scores SCA 84 or higher. Our El Flaco Grande currently sits at SCA 87.
That number isn’t marketing fluff. It is a direct reflection of how the coffee was grown, harvested, processed, and roasted.
Why SCA Scores Matter
Higher SCA scores mean:
- Better prices for farmers
- Access to specialty buyers instead of commodity markets
- Incentive to invest in quality instead of volume
- A real economic alternative to coca
Coca has historically paid better in the short term in many rural regions of Colombia. Specialty coffee is one of the few legal crops that can compete when quality is high enough.
When a farmer can consistently produce 84+ point coffee, the math starts to change. The crop becomes worth protecting. The land becomes worth improving. The next generation has a reason to stay in coffee instead of returning to coca.
How Specialty Coffee Helps the Transition
This is the core of our mission at Cocaine Coffee and through the Cocaine for Coffee™ initiative.
We deliberately source from regions that have historically grown coca. We pay for quality. We tell the story. And we create demand for coffee that gives farmers a viable legal path forward.
Every bag of specialty coffee sold does two things at once:
- Delivers a better cup to you
- Strengthens the economic case for coffee over coca
It’s not charity. It’s better economics backed by better coffee.
The Bottom Line
Specialty coffee isn’t just about tasting notes or higher prices at the café. It’s one of the most practical tools available for rural transformation in Colombia.
When farmers can earn a living growing exceptional coffee, the incentive to grow coca weakens.
That’s why we obsess over SCA scores. That’s why we only sell specialty-grade coffee. And that’s why your morning cup matters more than most people realize.
