BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE is said to be a third-wave coffee chain, but first, what exactly is the third wave?
First, there was the first wave and the second wave.
The first wave was the period when mass-produced coffee, as explained here, became cheaper and more widespread.
The second wave was the culture of enjoying Italian espresso-style coffee at cafes, such as Seattle-based cafe chains like Starbucks.
The third wave emphasizes specialty coffee.
Specialty coffee is high-quality beans. It is based on the idea of valuing the producer's name and origin.