What makes Coffee Gourmet?

Hi MrCoffee!

I'll give it a go, after all, I live in Seattle WA, the gourmet coffee
capital of the world! It is said we have espresso stands on every
corner, and frankly, it's nearly true. It's everywhere.

In my opinion, in this case, I think the terms "Gourmet Coffee" and
"Specialty Coffee" are interchangable. I found a definition of
"Specialty Coffee" for you.  Actually if you look in the title of the
browser page, in the blue bar at the very top, the page title does
have the word gourmet in it, and this site came up as the first result
when I entered this search string in Google:

"gourmet coffee" definition

Here's the site with the definition of "Specialty Coffee."

The Definition of Specialty Coffee
by Don Holly, Administrative Director, The Specialty Coffee
Association of America (SCAA)
http://www.specialtyjava.com/definition_of_specialty_coffee.htm
..." My understanding of the origin of the term "specialty coffee" is
that it was first coined by Erna Knutsen, of Knutsen Coffee Ltd., in a
speech to the delegates of an international coffee conference in
Montreuil, France, in 1978. In essence, the concept was quite simple:
special geographic microclimates produce beans with unique flavor
profiles, which she referred to as "specialty coffees." Underlying
this idea of coffee appellations, was the fundamental premise that 
specialty coffee beans would always be well prepared, freshly roasted,
and properly brewed. This was the craft of the specialty coffee
industry that had been slowly evolving during the twenty-year period
preceding her speech. The Specialty Coffee Association of America
(SCAA) continues to define specialty in this context. Our job is to
continue to promote this definition through the actions of our
membership..."

NOTE, MORE AT THE LINK, do read it all...


If you would like to explore their site, here is their Home Page:

SpecialtyJava.com
http://www.specialtyjava.com/


These links at the Starbucks site are very informative:

Growing Regions - Geography is a flavor
http://www.starbucks.com/ourcoffees/coffee_edu4.asp?category%5Fname=Growing+Regions

The History of Coffee
http://www.starbucks.com/ourcoffees/coffee_edu2.asp?category%5Fname=History+of+Coffee

The Roast Story
http://www.starbucks.com/ourcoffees/coffee_edu3.asp?category%5Fname=The+Roast+Story


I hope you find this information useful, and please, do treat yourself
to a "Caramel Mocha" any size, and I like mine with whipping cream,
they are very yummy.


~~Cynthia


Search terms used at Google described above.

I don't think the word "gourmet" means much. It's an advertising ploy.
Anyone can call a product "gourmet coffee," since the term isn't
regulated by law.

My tastebuds determine if the term "Gourmet" should be applicable.

I'm with PinkFreud; although there are specific variables that can
positively (or negatively) impact your enjoyment of a cup of coffee,
the "coffee experience" in all it's permutations is pretty subjective.
The only requirement for labeling food/drink items as "Gourmet" or
apparel as "designer" (etc) is having gullible customers - the kind of
folks who are more worried about what others think than about whether
they themselves enjoy using the products.

I'm often reminded of something I heard in the early days of the
bottled water phenomenon: that "Evian" spelled backwards was "Naive."