Plenty of people drink coffee.
The National Coffee Association says 64 percent of Americans aged 18 or older consume at least a cup a day. About 79 percent enjoy a cup at home, and 36 percent drink their coffee out and about.
According to the Specialty Coffee Association, 41 percent of Americans drink specialty coffee daily, way up from 14 percent in 2001. Translation: A growing number of people are no longer settling for gas-station sludge that’s been sitting there for days or whatever coffee is served off menus.
So what exactly makes a cup of joe a “specialty coffee”? In a nutshell, it means using the highest-quality beans, roasted to their greatest flavor and then brewed to perfection using everything from batch-brew equipment to popular pour-over brewers such as the Hario V60, Kalita Wave, AeroPress, and Chemex.
In layman’s terms: It’s good coffee brewed by people who care about the entire process, from plant to cup.
The best way to understand specialty coffee isn’t to read about it — it’s to get out there and drink it. Try different beans from different places made via different brewing methods.
Whether you're a coffee aficionado or a novice who wants to experience a genuine coffee “wow" moment, here are five South Florida spots that will always serve you a memorable cup:
Some of the best coffee from sea to shining sea is served upon the Kalita Wave at All Day.
Photo courtesy of All Day
All Day
1035 N. Miami Ave., Miami305-699-3447
alldaymia.com
This downtown spot doesn't roast its own beans, but it sources some of the absolutely finest coffees from around the world. On any given day, you can find fruity Ethiopian or caramel-sweet Colombian single-origin coffees and blend selections from the likes of Ruby Coffee Roasters (Nelsonville, Wisconsin) and Little Amps Coffee Roasters (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania). The beans are brewed via a Kalita Wave, and your cup of joe ($5) is served on a gold platter. Each week, the All Day crew blind-tastes coffees from all kinds of roasters and selects the top brews to ultimately purchase and deliver to the people. All Day also offers a coffee taste test, called “cupping,” so you can try three of their offerings for ten bucks.
Wells Coffee is the roastery fueling the buzz in Flagler Village in Fort Lauderdale.
Photo courtesy of of Wells Coffee
Wells Coffee Co.
737 NE Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale954-982-2886
wells.coffee
The booming Flagler Village in Fort Lauderdale is being called the next Wynwood. The cozy, beloved roastery fueling that buzz is Wells Coffee. Its partnerships in the community are growing — the shop provides roasted beans to the likes of nearby Brew Urban Café. But before you venture out to enjoy Wells’ goods elsewhere, enjoy the experience at the HQ. Pour-over offerings ($4.50) typically include a mind-blowing, naturally washed Ethiopia Hambela, Horizon Handcrafted blend (with beans from Indonesia and East Africa), or whatever the Wells crew has recently sourced and roasted. Bring home a bag of beans, starting at $15.
House of Per'La's coffee drinks are made with beans roasted in Miami
Photo by Laine Doss
House of Per'La
2626 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables786-703-9183
drinkperla.com
Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli (Glass and Vine, Eating House) has teamed up with Miami coffee roaster Per'La Specialty Coffee for this Coral Gables café that pours espressos, lattes, and other coffee drinks made with Per'La's exclusive beans roasted right here in Miami. Instead of the usual mass-produced muffin or nuked egg sandwich, the food selection includes freshly baked croissants, a BLAT (bacon, lettuce, mashed avocado, and tomato sandwich) for $9, soups, and salads.
By whatever method, Panther Coffee knows how to deliver delicious brew.
Photo courtesy of of Panther Coffee
Panther Coffee
2390 NW Second Ave., Miami305-677-3952
panthercoffee.com
Owners Joel and Leticia Pollock have poured their hearts and souls into each single-origin coffee or blend, and you can taste it. Sure, you can drink the cold-brew blend all day, and the 1985 espresso in beverages galore is magical, but their single-origins from Finca La Amistad in Nicaragua and Fazenda Furnas in Brazil are a coffee purist’s heaven. In terms of brewing methods, Panther’s
The pour-over bar at Eternity boasts a global selection of delicious beans.
Photo courtesy of Eternity Coffee
Eternity Coffee Roasters
117 SE Second Ave., Miami305-350-7761
eternitycoffeeroasters.com
Since 2011, the roastery/shop has sourced green coffee from across the globe, roasted it daily, and delivered it to the masses. Over the years, Eternity has blossomed with an expanding menu and a number of single origins available at Whole Foods locations. At its shop, you can enjoy its Colombian La Eternidad via pour-over, as well as coffees from the likes of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Burundi ($2.75 and up). The shop takes pride in doing farm-direct trade and even has a seed-to-cup experience with a family-owned farm in Colombia, meaning Eternity's owners are involved every step of the way, from growing to brewing.
