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.
These origins are called single origins, and as opposed to a blend of various origins, beans are packaged using only beans from a specific region.
In other words, there is a trend toward focusing on the beans and their producers.
Fair trade and sustainability have also become increasingly important.
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