Specialty Coffee — Responsibly sourced. Remarkably roasted.

In this world of working from home many of you are learning to make the perfect cup of coffee yourselves. So, we wanted to take the time to explain why our coffee is different from the mainstream brands in your grocery store, and for you to know where your dollars are going. We are a specialty coffee roaster, so if you don’t know why the word “specialty” is so important, here’s our explanation:

Image of the Backyard Beans green coffee room — Green coffee storage room

Specialty coffee is a term used for the type of green coffee that we buy and roast. It is coffee that scores over 80 points based on a 100 point scale. This scale is industry standard and is taken from the Specialty Coffee Association’s (SCA) cupping score sheet. The climate, soil, harvesting techniques, processing methods, sorting, storing and age all play into the quality experienced. So when you take a look at the back of our bags and wonder why we have the nerdy information on the back, that’s why! Coffee geeks know that we’re a specialty coffee roaster because of this information. If you’re just getting into the world of specialty coffee, take a look at the bags in your grocery market and compare them!

The Backyard Beans Coffee Co. slogan—Responsibly Sourced, Remarkably Roasted—was inspired by the coffee farmers who put in the extra work required to produce specialty coffee. We are extremely proud to prioritize farmer relationships around the world. Our interactions are never impersonal. These relationships help us understand the quality and effort that goes into cultivating remarkable coffee. We stand by our slogan ever since we started roasting coffee in our backyard with our Weber Grill in 2013.

Coffee in the cooling bin — Into the cooling bin

Commercial grade coffee doesn’t meet the above mentioned standards, but this coffee is still sold for a much lower price. In fact, most major coffee companies roast dark because they are trying to hide imperfections and impurities that happen with commercial coffees: fungus, over/unripe beans, high moisture content, mold, and even damage caused by insects!

Coffee newbees tend to ask us this question: what are tasting notes? It’s not flavored coffee, it’s a description of the coffee’s flavor! Similar to a fine wine, tasting notes are natural characteristics inherent to the coffees. So when you can taste specific positive flavor notes (like blueberry, caramel, chocolate, etc.) it’s a sure sign that extra care and attention were paid to produce that coffee.

Image of Loring roaster suctioning up green coffee into roaster — Responsibly sourced green coffee

And last but not least, why don’t we offer more dark roasts? If you ask the guys who roast our coffee they’ll tell you that dark roasts mask the unique, natural flavors in coffee. This results in specialty coffee tasting dull and bitter. You’ll notice that the only dark roasts that is offered is our signature Punch in the Face. This coffees is still Specialty! Specialty refers to the green coffee we source, not the roasted product. We’re extremely proud of our roaster operators who can pull off dark roasts that hit all the right notes for those seeking a bold coffee.

So go ahead and purchase your coffee with confidence because you know that your dollars are going into a responsibly sourced roast and supporting farmers around the globe. You’re also supporting local because we roast everything in-house in Lansdale, PA. It’s a win/win situation. Take the time to discover the world of specialty coffee with its many processing methods, varieties, and origins. You can read stories behind the coffees in our online store, so you’ll get to research and really know what coffee is best for you, who you’re supporting, and have a good story to tell your friends. Enjoy exploring coffee with us!

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