What does an SCA score of 80+ actually mean?
By Colombian Coffees Australia5 min read
Every coffee we import is "specialty grade". Here is what the number on the bag is measuring, who scores it, and why 87.5 is a big deal.
"Specialty" is not a marketing word. The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) defines it as coffee that scores 80 points or more on a 100-point cupping scale, evaluated by certified Q Graders.
What gets scored
- Fragrance and aroma
- Flavour and aftertaste
- Acidity and body
- Balance, uniformity, clean cup and sweetness
- Overall impression
Each attribute is scored in quarter points; defects are deducted. Commodity coffee sits below 80; most supermarket "premium" blends are never cupped at all.
Why the number matters for you
An 80+ score guarantees traceability (you cannot cup what you cannot trace), careful processing and hand sorting. Café Quindío's Specialty Harvest lots score 87.5 — the same bracket as coffees that win national brewing competitions. Dios Mío sits one point under the specialty line, on purpose: premium quality at a price built for the daily cup.
Discover the barista within you
Our journal will keep unpacking the cupping form, one attribute at a time — so that the next bag you open, you can taste what the grader tasted.
Brands in this story
Armenia, Quindío — Colombia's coffee axis
Specialty coffee from the heart of the Eje Cafetero — 34 years, 40 coffee shops, roasted where it is grown.
More from Café Quindío
Colombia — 100% Colombian, roasted at origin
Premium 100% Colombian coffee at an accessible price — the brand that brought Colombian pride to the mass market.
More from Dios Mío CoffeeTags
- sca
- quality
- education
- cafe-quindio
- dios-mio
