01

The start of a wonderful coffee begins with the producers. For generations, they have worked as families to cultivate the best coffee. Over the years, from planting to harvest, they grow coffee cherries under various harsh conditions such as altitude and climate.

As the cherries mature and the harvest season begins, the cherries on a single tree do not ripen uniformly. This means that to produce high-quality coffee, only the fully ripened cherries need to be hand-picked. These workers, known as "Pickers," are essential to ensure that farmers can secure talented seasonal labor to produce high-quality coffee during the harvest. As the number of pickers decreases each year, it is often a competitive process between farms to secure them, and each farm works to improve labor conditions, including wages and even schooling for children.

Only the coffee cherries selected and harvested by pickers move on to the processing stage, and after drying, the beans are extracted and become "green coffee beans."

The farm owners work on land passed down through generations, dedicated to improving production techniques and quality, and they devote their lives to producing the finest coffee.

The exceptional coffee cultivated by the hands of each individual carries a variety of stories before it reaches us.

02

The selection of coffee beans is done through cupping, a globally recognized extraction method, by roasters and experts who possess specialized knowledge and a sharp sense of taste. Based on the international standards set by the SCA, the beans are evaluated, and only those scoring 80 points or higher are classified as "Specialty Coffee" and are eligible for price negotiations based on quality. The evaluation covers ten aspects, such as Fragrance/Aroma, Aftertaste, and Acidity, and also considers the minimal presence of defective beans. However, the evaluation does not include Bitterness, which is not inherently part of green coffee beans.

The purchased green coffee beans undergo a roasting process and are transformed into "roasted beans," which can then be brewed as liquid coffee.

To roast the beans without turning the inherent fruity aromas, acidity, and sweetness into bitterness, it is necessary to roast them to a "Light Roast." This approach is advocated as the global standard. However, it’s not just about roasting lightly; the goal is to identify the point at which the taste and flavor are most beautifully developed through rigorous testing. Furthermore, even if the green beans are of high quality, if the roasting is not done properly, they will fall outside the definition of specialty coffee.

Roasters need advanced specialized knowledge and experience to fully extract the taste the coffee beans hold. They repeatedly test through cupping and other extraction methods, continuously working toward the best possible approach.

03

Strict quality control has been carried out at each phase, from the production area to roasting, but if the extraction is not properly done, it will not reach the consumer as specialty coffee. Baristas must face the journey these coffee beans have taken and need advanced extraction techniques and knowledge to determine which extraction method best expresses their potential. If specialty coffee is not extracted properly, the original flavors of the coffee beans may be lost, which would fall outside the definition of specialty coffee.

Baristas have the responsibility to bring the journey from the farm to its final destination—the consumer.

Only after the extraction is complete, the cup (or serving) can truly be delivered as "specialty coffee."

04

The consumer, or the drinker, is the one who completes the story of specialty coffee in a cup. The cup received from the barista allows the drinker to not only taste the coffee but also feel the passion of the people who were involved in its creation. It becomes not just "coffee to drink," but "coffee to savor." Additionally, specialty coffee is not only about striving for the highest standards of quality, but also about improving the standard of living for all those who contributed throughout the process. It enriches the daily life of the consumers who enjoy it and completes the sustainability cycle.

A single cup of coffee is the result of efforts and passion passed down through human hands from distant lands—it's the very crystallization of those efforts.
Raw Sugar Roast is dedicated to spreading and promoting this kind of specialty coffee.