Ever since launching mindwater in 2025, we’ve made it a priority to source and roast the finest coffee we can find. But what exactly is specialty coffee and why is it a step (or several) above the rest?

With the rise of third-wave coffee, both the industry and consumers began shifting their focus toward quality, craftsmanship, and transparency — similar to how sommeliers and wine connoisseurs seek out the best bottles. While coffee exists across a wide quality spectrum, only a small percentage qualifies as specialty.

Specialty coffee is evaluated through a standardized cupping process that assesses aroma, flavor, acidity, body, balance, and more. To earn the specialty grade, a coffee must score 80 points or higher on the 100-point scale established by the Specialty Coffee Association.

Have you noticed the flavor notes we include with our beans? Those tasting notes — orange, blackberry, chocolate, and more — are a hallmark of specialty coffee. They reflect the coffee’s origin, processing method, and terroir by telling you what you should taste with each sip. You'll notice slight variations to these notes based on your brew method (French Press v. Espresso, for example).

Beyond flavor, specialty coffee is also defined by traceability. Many lots can be traced to a specific region, cooperative, or even a single farm. That transparency allows importers, roasters, and coffee shops to recognize and celebrate the producers responsible for growing such exceptional coffee.

So next time someone asks why they should invest in higher-quality coffee, you’ll know: it’s about craftsmanship, quality, distinctive flavor, and traceability.

Thank you for supporting our small business! While all sales are considered final, please reach out over email at support@mindwatercoffee.com if you are disappointed after receiving your order. We would love to learn from our mistakes and know what we can do better in the future to make you happy.

Do you offer gift cards? Coffee is our favorite gift, too! Gift cards are available for purchase on the product page in various dollar amounts.

Do you provide gift wrapping or personalized notes? We'd love to help make your order a gift for someone special! Please reach out via email at hello@mindwatercoffee.com if you want to include a personalized note.

The back of my bag recommends a 1:15 coffee to water ratio. What does that mean?

For optimal flavor and aroma, we recommend using 1 gram of coffee for every 15 grams of water. Weighing out the coffee and water using this ratio helps prevent a disappointing watery or overly powerful brew. For the perfect cup for one person, start off with 20g of coffee and 300g of water. Adjust up or down from there using the 1:15 ratio according to your individual preference for brew strength. Enjoy your morning with mindwater!

Refer to Subscription FAQ for common FAQ around our subscription products. If you have any other questions not listed here, please feel free to reach out via instagram @mindwatercoffee or at support@mindwatercoffee.com