Meanings
plural specialty coffees · alternative uncommon speciality coffee
- countableuncountableThe highest grade of coffee available, typically relating to the entire supply chain, using single-origin or single-estate coffee.
Kahawa 1893’s launch coincided with a significant shift in American coffee culture, driven by the so-called third-wave “specialty coffee” movement, which prioritizes small producers and premium beans.
2024 September 19, Claire Wang, “After a terrible cup of joe in the office, a founder decided to bring African coffee traditions stateside”, in The Guardian, →ISSN1 more example
In a recent interview, she elaborated on its supporting themes, which included coffee prices — between €1 and €1.50 for an espresso at the cafe bar, compared with the €5 or more for a specialty coffee — as well as class and the educational levels of patrons and owners of these establishments.
2025 January 21, Vivian Song, “Specialty Coffee Shops and Parisian Cafes”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
Origin
First used in 1974 by Erna Knutsen in an issue of Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan cafè d'especialitat
- cafè d'especialitatTranslations
Chinese Mandarin 精品咖啡
- 精品咖啡 (jīngpǐn kāfēi)Translations
French café de spécialité
- café de spécialitéTranslations
Portuguese café especial
- café especialTranslations
Spanish café de especialidad, café gourmet
- café de especialidadTranslations
- café gourmetTranslations
Cite this entry
specialty coffee. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/specialty%20coffee
“specialty coffee.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/specialty%20coffee. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “specialty coffee,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/specialty%20coffee.
Source: specialty coffee on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.