What is third wave specialty coffee?
First Wave
First Wave: Late 1800’s - 1920 So, back in the late 1800s, we had what we call the First Wave of coffee. The industrial revolution is in full swing, and Folgers and Maxwell House ruled the scene, making coffee convenient and accessible for the masses. It was all about getting your caffeine fix fast, with no fuss or frills.
Second Wave
Second Wave: 1960s - 1990’s Fast forward to the latter half of the 20th century and we have the Second Wave of coffee! Peet’s coffee started this wave, followed a rise in coffee chains like Starbucks, where espresso-based drinks became all the rage. Suddenly, it was all about the cafe experience. Fancy lattes, cappuccinos, and a whole new world of flavors opened up to coffee lovers everywhere.
Third Wave
Third Wave: Early 2000’s - now Third Wave coffee burst onto the scene in the early 2000s, right here in the Windy City of Chicago! Intelligentsia started focusing on the traceability of beans to the farm. It’s characterized by its attention to the quality of the coffee bean terroir, rather than focusing on coffee as a commodity — the shift to coffee as an artisanal product. Quality, focus on flavor, precision brewing, and innovation are the hallmarks of third wave coffee.