Anette Moldvaer - The Coffee Book

For millions all over the world, sitting in a caf with a delicious coffee is one of lifes great pleasures. Elevating this experience is the speciality caf where a skilled barista can make you a good-quality coffee, just how you like it.

Cafs are at the heart of established traditions that go back centuries from the caf au lait in a Parisian caf to the bottomless coffee mug in a Texan diner. More of us frequent cafs than ever before, thanks to coffees flourishing popularity in China, India, Russia, and Japan. Even though drinking coffee is just a normal part of everyday life for many, it is still a new and exciting experience for countless others.

With this fresh passion for coffee, every day an increasing number of speciality cafs open around the world. Visiting such cafs, where you can experience an array of varieties, roasts, and styles, is no longer just for coffee connoisseurs. For anyone who appreciates the value of quality, sustainability, and care, a speciality coffee house is the perfect place to socialize, explore new flavours, and soak up a unique atmosphere.

COFFEE IS JUST PART OF LIFE FOR MANY, BUT FOR SOME IT IS A NEW AND EXCITING PHENOMENON

It is so easy to take coffees long journey from farm to cup for granted. Not everyone is aware that a coffee bean is the seed of a fruit, or that it needs to be roasted before it can be ground and brewed. An increasing number of cafs treat coffee as the fresh, seasonal product that it is, and promote it as an ingredient and a drink that takes skill to grow and prepare. They highlight and celebrate the vast range of unique flavours out there, helping to reveal the provenance and human story behind the beans.

Thanks to speciality cafs, coffee lovers are becoming aware of the complexities of production, trade, and preparation. The challenges growers face with low prices and a treacherous commodity market have spurred an increasing demand for sustainably traded coffees. The concept that quality costs more has long been acceptable when it comes to food and wine, and rapidly consumers are realizing that the same rule should apply to coffee.

While the balance between supply, demand, cost, and ecology is one that remains challenging and unpredictable, speciality coffee companies lead with a focus on quality, transparency, and sustainability. With such an increasing cultural shift that focuses on coffee cultivation and preparation, speciality cafs are more important than ever.