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Do you consider coffee more than just a hot beverage loaded with caffeine and capable of waking you up in the morning? If so, you may be familiar with the phrase ‘third wave coffee’. It is a phrase that is bandied about by coffee roasters, growers, and even local baristas who fancy themselves experts in all things coffee.

So, what exactly is third wave coffee? Moreover, did coffee have first and second waves? Keep reading to learn more about what has essentially become a cultural phenomenon here in the U.S.

Definition of Third Wave Coffee

Third wave coffee is essentially coffee that is crafted as an artisanal beverage with the same attention to flavor, quality, and experience vintner’s give to fine wines. Third wave is to the coffee industry what award-winning wine is to wine tasting.

Those involved in the third wave are very particular about growing regions. They pay special attention to the quality of their coffee beans, how they mix and match those beans to achieve a specific flavor, how they roast the beans, and even how roasted beans are ground and packaged for sale.

The objective here is to produce coffee that is worth being persnickety about. Third wave coffee is considered by coffee snobs to be the best possible coffee money can buy. As such, third wave producers compete for brand loyalty.

First and Second Waves

To fully understand and appreciate third wave coffee, you probably need to understand the first and second waves. The reason for this is simple: the current third wave of coffee is not really new, it is simply a return to the way things used to be done before industrialization.

The first wave of coffee began back in the 1800s when a small number of producers decided they needed a way to mass produce and market their products. Coffee processing went from small, family-owned operations to large, industrialized factories. First wave gave us coffee in cans, vacuum packing, and household brand names like Folgers and Hills Bros.

This first wave continued into the early 1990s, when consumers began tiring of poor quality coffee purchased at the grocery store. Coffee drinkers started demanding better flavor and more choices coinciding with the rise of the coffee house culture. Second wave gave us Starbucks, flavored coffees, and Americanized lattes and cappuccinos.

Second wave morphed into third wave at the turn of the 21st century. That brings us to where we are today. Third wave coffee lovers are very particular about the flavor and quality of their coffee. They also care about where coffee beans are sourced from.

Here at Galaxie Coffee, we embrace all three waves for the benefit of our customers. Regardless of your taste in coffee and coffee preparation, we have something for your office. We take great pride in meeting the needs of our customers with a large variety of products and equipment. Whatever wave is your thing, we have you covered with our large coffee selection.