From bean to brew, there is no question that artisan coffee is the good stuff. Artisan coffee makers understand how to walk the line between nature, craftsmanship, and art to create the best artisan coffee you’ve ever tasted.
But you might be asking yourself: What is artisan coffee?
Here at SonRise Coffee Co., we are passionate about a good cup of joe, and we’re eager to answer all your questions about artisan coffee, including…
- What is considered high-quality coffee?
- What is the difference between artisan coffee and specialty coffee?
- How do you make artisan coffee?
- Is coffee an artisan good?
What is Artisan Coffee?
Artisan coffee refers to a specific approach to growing, roasting, and preparing coffee. The goal of artisan coffee is to produce the highest quality coffee. Artisan coffee roasters do this by prioritizing craftsmanship at every step of the growing and roasting process.
The term “artisanal,” when used to describe food or drink, means something that is made in a traditional or non-mechanized way. Or, in other words, something that is made by skilled or specialized craftspeople.
Applying this term to coffee, artisan coffee refers to coffee grown, roasted, and brewed by the experts!
What Makes Coffee Artisan?
- Sustainable Farming: Artisan coffee is often produced by growers that use sustainable farming methods. Handpicked beans are usually dried at the source, and farming practices emphasize supporting the environment.
- Small-Batch Roasting: Artisan coffee is roasted in smaller batches to allow coffee roasters the ability to bring out each coffee’s unique flavor.
- Craftsmanship: Roasting is where the artistry of coffee enters the equation. Artisan coffee roasters carefully regulate temperature to ensure the beans are perfectly roasted and can create the smoothest and most flavorful coffee possible.
- Quality over Quantity: Quality is prioritized over mass production in all aspects of the process. Coffee beans are single-sourced, meaning they come from one farm or region, and beans are roasted in small batches to ensure each is up to scratch!
Overall, the best artisan coffee is crafted so you can enjoy, to the fullest extent, coffee’s freshness, mouthful, acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and aftertaste.
Artisan vs. Speciality Coffee
Contrary to popular opinion, specialty coffee is not the same thing as artisan coffee. Specialty coffee refers to the highest grade of coffee available and is often used to describe beans with the best flavor that are produced in unique microclimates.
Specialty Coffee is a result of the Third Wave of Coffee Movement that began in the 1970s. The movement prioritized high-quality beans sourced from smaller, individual farms and lightly roasted to bring out each bean’s unique flavor. It is a result of the modern demand for quality coffee grown and brewed to a higher standard.
The key differences lie in their production:
- Artisan Coffee: Focuses on coffee made the “traditional way” and prioritizes handcrafted methods, small-scale production, personal connections with growers and customers, and diverse bean flavor profiles.
- Speciality Coffee: Prioritizes control over the roasting profile and uses advanced technology to gain more control over growing, roasting, and preparing coffee. Specialty coffee makers also emphasize their coffee beans’ flavor, aroma, acidity, body, and aftertaste.
Decaf Artisanal Coffee
Artisanal coffee isn’t just for those who crave caffeine! Artisanal coffee can be made decaf, too. Artisanal decaf coffee is naturally decaffeinated and, like caffeinated artisanal coffee, roasted in small batches to help create a more flavorful cup of coffee!
Check out SonRise Coffee Co.’s artisanal decaf coffee!
Artisan Roasting
Artisan roasting is a highly-skilled process of extracting a coffee’s flavor from the coffee bean. The process takes patience and procession as it is easy to scorch, underdevelop, or overdevelop flavors, all of which result in a poorer cup of coffee.
Artisan coffee roasters understand how to avoid these mistakes and can evenly heat coffee beans to create the smoothest, most flavorful coffee available. This is also why artisan coffee roasting is conducted in small batches. These smaller batches help artisanal coffee roasters maintain flavor control throughout the roasting process.
Artisan Coffee Beans
The key to artisan coffee comes down to the beans. Coffee beans differ by region; each region’s climate and soil type can affect a coffee’s flavor. Artisan coffee beans are high-quality coffee beans that are selected by experts who understand each bean’s potential for small-batch roasting and unique flavor profile.
There are four main types of coffee beans: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa.
- Arabica coffee beans are native to Ethiopia, are best used for brewed coffee, and have a variable flavor profile but are not overly bitter. Arabica is the most popular and well-known type of coffee bean.
- Robusta coffee beans are native to sub-Saharan Africa, are best used for coffee blends and espresso, and have a bitter, woody, or nutty flavor profile. These are the second most produced coffee beans in the world and are known for their smooth texture.
- Excelsa coffee beans are native to Southeast Asia, are best for brewed coffee and blends, and have a complex tart and fruity flavor profile.
- Finally, the Liberica coffee beans are also native to Southeast Asia, excellent for brewed coffee and desserts, and have a nutty and woody flavor profile.
Artisan coffee beans are also available decaffeinated! Some artisanal coffee roasters offer decaf artisanal coffee blends, which provide all the unique flavor profiles of a coffee blend but without those caffeine jitters!
What is an Artisan Blend?
An artisan blend refers to a coffee blend that is made by combining different types of coffee beans to create a unique flavor profile. Artisan coffee blends create a cup of coffee with more flavors than a single-origin blend.
Artisanal coffee blends are typically more complex than regular coffee blends, as each component is carefully identified and hand-roasted by roasting experts. Artisanal coffee blends also tend to be fresher and more flavorful than regular coffee blends.
We roast our coffee to order! Our signature Sunrise Medium Roast Organic Coffee blend combines Mexican and Ethiopian Coffees for a sweet and balanced flavor.
Or, check out our Artisanal Organic Espresso Blend, which is crafted from Mexican and Sumatra coffee beans of the Arabica variety and is roasted to order, prioritizing freshness and flavor.
Artisan Coffee Brands
Finding the right artisan coffee roaster can transform your daily coffee experience. Here at SonRise Coffee Co., we are proud to offer quality artisan roasted coffee. Our mission is to roast and sell organic coffee that is sourced from quality growers around the world and produced by family-focused micro-roasters.
Check out our current selection of artisanal organic coffee products here!
What are Artisan Coffee Prices Typically Like?
Artisan coffee prices can vary by roaster and bean type. Because of the care spent on growing, roasting, and preparing artisan coffee, artisan coffee prices can cost a little more than regular coffee. Artisan coffee is also roasted in smaller batches, which contributes to a slightly higher price. The most expensive artisan coffee in the world is a Panama Geisha coffee which is sold for $800 a pound!
In most cases, artisan coffee will cost about $10 – $25 a pound.
Artisan coffee prices can vary by roaster and bean type. Because of the care spent on growing, roasting, and preparing artisan coffee, artisan coffee prices can cost a little more than regular coffee. Artisan coffee is also roasted in smaller batches, which contributes to a slightly higher price. The most expensive artisan coffee in the world is a Panama Geisha coffee which is sold for $800 a pound!
In most cases, artisan coffee will cost about $10 – $25 a pound.
Our own Artisan coffee prices are about $15 a pound, which reflects the quality and care we roast into each batch.
Explore our prices here!
Artisan Tea
Like artisan coffee, artisan tea is also a popular high-quality tea. Much like artisan coffee, artisan tea refers to quality tea leaves and hand production. Here at SonRise Coffee Co., we offer both artisan tea and coffee—one of our founders, Suzanne Esh, carefully crafts organic tea blends. Suzanne’s tea expertise allows her to handcraft our tea blends. We offer Immune Boost, Sweet Dreams tea, Chai Spice, and more!
Explore our artisanal tea selection today!
Artisan Coffee in Pennsylvania
Looking for an Artisanal Coffee Shop in your area to try out artisan coffee for yourself?
We are proud to sell our artisanal organic coffee at a number of retail stores. Our artisan coffee brand can be found throughout eastern Pennsylvania.
Find us at…
Glick’s Natural Products in Lancaster, PA
Harvest Lane Farm Market in Lititz, PA
Rachel’s Soft Pretzels in Millersburg, PA
Lofty Momma’s Coffee Shop in Shippensburg, PA
And more!
To wrap things up, the growing popularity of artisan coffee reflects a return to traditional coffee production methods. People embrace artisan coffee for the simple enjoyment of the rich, complex flavors of coffee and the hands that bring those flavors to life.
So, whether you prefer regular or decaf, single-source beans or blends, a cup of artisan coffee can be the difference between an excellent morning and an average one. Drink artisan coffee and support small-scale farmers, roasters, and businesses like ours who are passionate about providing quality sustainable coffee to our communities.
Ready to experience artisan coffee for yourself?
Explore our selection of artisanal organic coffee and taste the difference SonRise Coffee Co. craftsmanship makes!
