Have you ever heard the term "coffee waves"? In this article, we will explain what coffee waves are and what defined the coffee world from the past to the present.
We can talk about the first coffee wave from roughly the 17th century, when coffee began to spread in Europe. During this period, the trade in coffee as a commodity began to develop and the first coffee houses were established. We can therefore say that the first wave was defined by the mass spread of coffee among the population without any quality criteria or deeper knowledge about the product.
The second wave began in the USA after 1960, when coffee was not only drunk, but attention was also paid to the quality of the bean, roasting, and especially the preparation of beverages. This wave is perfectly illustrated by the story of the Starbucks brand, which turned a coffee shop business into a global, highly profitable corporation. It was precisely thanks to a new perspective on preparation quality and standardization. Coffee at this time became a cultural and social phenomenon and a necessity of everyday life.
As is often the case, this approach also became outdated and after 2000 we can talk about the third coffee wave.
The third wave of coffee as a term was first used by Trish Rothgeb back in 2002 in the Roasters Guild Publication, which defined three coffee "waves".
Consumers in this wave are much more interested in a great cup of coffee that combines a multitude of unconventional aromas and flavors. In this wave, coffee is increasingly inspired by wine, people care much more about the origin of the coffee, the processing methods, and the way it is prepared.
An important feature of the third coffee wave is the characterization of specialty coffee and the creation of the Specialty Coffee Association of America. Defining coffee as "specialty" and "non-specialty" was an irreversible breakthrough in the development of the coffee industry. The quality of coffee became very important and along with it many other aspects, such as the professionalism of the barista, the origin of the coffee beans, roasting, and transparency.
Baristas gained a lot of attention in this wave because it is precisely them and their knowledge that lead to the creation of a great cup of coffee that can make your day better. Previously, a barista was just someone who made you coffee. Nowadays, a good barista knows the whole process, from the selection of green coffee to perfect preparation. All with the aim of preserving the specific characteristics of the coffee.
In the same vein, we can also talk about the roaster, who transformed from a worker into a highly qualified specialist whose work today resembles work in a laboratory more than in a factory.
Another important characteristic of the third wave is the industry's focus on sustainability throughout the supply chain. Various initiatives have emerged that support economic sustainability, i.e., fair wages for farmers, as well as ecological sustainability, thus emphasizing cultivation without consequences for the environment.
The third wave's focus on the entire coffee production chain, from the farmer to the barista, is one of its most significant components. Social responsibility is a strong point of modern coffee culture, as current generations of coffee professionals are beginning to feel responsible for being the driving force at the end of the chain in a highly traded industry. Many farmers are still very underpaid for their hard work and live under constant economic pressure.
You can notice the effort of coffee professionals throughout the chain to improve this situation, for example, in the names of coffees. Often you will not find them just under the designation "Peru", but "Peru Elicer Diaz", where in addition to the country of origin you will also find the name of the farmer and in some cases the method by which the coffee was processed.
Ultimately, the third coffee wave is about love, togetherness, and a passion for perfection and fairness.
By buying and drinking coffee from a roastery with these core values, you give the coffee world a chance to move in a more sustainable and fairer direction. And that is exactly what the third coffee wave is all about.
