The term 3rd wave of coffee refers to a trend that is known to happen in the industry of coffee. This article tells you all you need to know about that term so you have an idea of what the term really means. Let’s find out!
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What is a 3rd Wave of Coffee?
Before understanding the third wave of coffee, it is important to understand the concept of the coffee wave. The concept was first introduced by Trish Rothgeb, who used the term to describe the stages that coffee has gone through.
The coffee industry uses the term ‘wave’ to refer to the stages in the industry. Each wave is differentiated by big changes in the global culture and the industry which are resulted from coffee. At the time of writing, there have been three waves of coffee in history.
The first wave of coffee refers to the period when coffee was mass-produced and marketed for the masses. This wave started in the early 1900s and continued until the 1960s. During this time, coffee was mainly viewed as a commodity, with little emphasis placed on its quality or origin.
The second wave of coffee, which began in the 1960s and continued until the late 1990s, placed more emphasis on the quality of coffee. This wave saw the rise of specialty coffee shops, where espresso-based drinks and other coffee beverages were made using higher-quality beans and more sophisticated brewing methods.
The 3rd wave of coffee, which emerged in the late 1990s and continues today, takes the focus on quality even further. Third-wave coffee shops prioritize sourcing high-quality beans from specific regions, roasting them to bring out their unique flavors, and brewing them using precise methods that highlight their nuances.
To put it simply, the second wave is the period when coffee became part of the culture instead of just a commodity during the first wave. Then, the third wave is more focused on the customers’ awareness of the coffee they consume.
The third wave of coffee is a movement that focuses on the quality of coffee, the transparency of the coffee supply chain, and the sustainability of coffee production. Therefore, coffee buyers during this stage are expecting to get coffee beans with the best quality while maintaining their sustainability.
You can get that coffee with high quality with green coffee beans, especially the specialty coffee beans from Indonesia.
The 3rd Wave of Coffee: 4 Key Factors That Define It
Other than the things being explained above, the third wave of coffee is also defined by several factors. The following are the four factors that define the third wave of coffee:
1. Rise of Direct Trade in the Coffee Industry
In coffee industries, direct trade means that coffee roasters work directly with coffee farmers and pay them a premium price for their beans. This ensures that the farmers are fairly compensated for their hard work and also helps to improve the quality of the coffee.
Thanks to this direct trade, many kinds of specialty coffee businesses keep appearing in the industry. A few examples are specialty coffee shops or Indonesian specialty green coffee distributors. However, it’s important to note that specialty coffee is not the same as the third wave of coffee. Instead, it is a part of the wave. Direct trade also promotes sustainability and quality in the coffee industry by encouraging environmental and social responsibility.
2. Lighter Roast Profile for Coffee Beans
The third wave of coffee emphasizes lighter roast profiles, which allow the unique flavors and aromas of each coffee variety to shine through. It is because of the lower heat applied during the roasting process that the components of the coffee beans will not experience any breakdown.
As a result, the roasted coffee beans will have as close as it makes no different flavor from their original flavor. Lighter roasts also contain higher levels of acidity, which can make for a brighter, more complex cup of coffee. Those outcomes would not happen with a darker roast.
Also Read: From Green to Brown: The Fascinating Process of Coffee Roasting!
3. Innovative Brew Methods
Third-wave coffee roasters or shops often use innovative brewing methods, such as pour-over, cold brew, French press, and Aeropress. The use of those methods is intended to extract the best possible flavor from their coffee beans.
Those innovative brewing methods require more skill and attention to detail than traditional brewing methods but can result in a more flavorful cup of coffee, especially for single-origin coffee beans.
4. Coffee Beans Origin Transparency
The third wave of coffee is also characterized by a commitment to origin transparency. This means that coffee roasters and shops will often provide detailed information on the coffee packaging about where their coffee comes from, including the farm or cooperative where it was grown, as well as information about the growing and harvesting process.
This information allows consumers to get a great coffee experience and also to make more informed choices about the coffee they drink. It can also help to promote sustainable coffee production and ethical sourcing practices as a focus in the third wave of coffee.
In conclusion, the 3rd wave of coffee movement has transformed the coffee industry and also led to the elevation of the status of coffee in the culinary world. You can also participate in that wave by consuming or buying green coffee beans from Indonesia at Indonesia Specialty Coffee!
