At the Coffee Corral, we only buy green beans considered to be specialty coffee quality. As a member of the SCAA, Special Coffee Association of America, we uphold the highest of standards in selecting our green coffee, roasting, cupping, and brewing. According to the SCAA, specialty grade coffee may not have any category 1 defects, and five or less category 2 defects. We measure the coffee’s quality we consider through defects, lighting of the green bean, and examining the surface of the bean; therefore assuring we will never sell a cup of coffee less then exceptional.
This is something only provided as a benefit to a smaller-scale roaster, as there is not enough specialty coffee in the world to supply the big suppliers such as Starbucks, McDonalds, or many of the large distribution companies supplying restaurants. At any given time, we have anywhere from 15 to 20 different single origins from across the world in our store, all meeting SCAA standards of coffee.