The Three Waves of Coffee
Many of us have had the guilty pleasure of whipping up the Dalgona coffee during the pandemic. The popularity of that coffee was short-lived but it soothed many during difficult times. Coffee has been a companion to humans for centuries now. From being consumed solely for its caffeine kick to being brewed for individual palettes, the three waves of coffee take us through that amazing journey.
While the exact origins of coffee remain obscure, historical records do provide a brief idea. Most notable is the legend of Kaldi, a 9th-century Ethiopian goatherd whose goats got excited and didn’t sleep an entire night after eating berries from a certain tree. Kaldi shared his discovery with the local abbot who then brewed the first cup of coffee. He realized that he remained alert during his evening prayers and soon all the monks in the monastery were indulging in this magical potion. By the 15th century coffee was a big hit in the Arabian Peninsula. Coffee houses sprang up and quickly became important centers for people to socialize. Considered a delightful recreational drink, it was consumed by many while chatting or playing a game of chess.
The Europeans, particularly the British, further popularised this beverage by opening up multiple coffee brewing houses. The pricing point was quite economical and it was readily available for the masses. With colonization, the coffee bean reached many parts of the world.
Through the years, coffee slowly became the staple breakfast beverage. This was also the time of the beginning of the industrial revolution when hordes of people woke up and went to factories. They found that a cup of coffee kept them alert and energetic throughout the day. That is when the first wave of coffee began.
What is the First Wave of Coffee?
Dating back to the late 1800s, coffee consumption became very popular. Industrial revolution gave a boost to the consumption and consequently the production of coffee.
Coffee corporations primarily focused on maximising production efficiency. As a result, the quality was downgraded and it was noted to have a slightly bitter taste. New coffee production methods such as Instant coffee and vacuum packaging were discovered. The focus was primarily on mass production.
Examples of popular brands: Foglers, Maxwell Coffee House, Mr. Coffee, Nescafe
What is the Second Wave of Coffee?
The second wave of coffee began in the 19780s. Coffee beans were made available in pre-packaged satchels for quick and easy brewing. Coffee was associated with breaks and relaxation.
Starbucks was a pioneer brand during this time which introduced coffee drinkers to new coffee drinks like cappuccinos, café au laits, and lattes. The concept of coffee houses and cafés as we know them today came up and people enjoyed a cup of coffee while hanging out with their friends and colleagues. Coffee became a lifestyle product and cafe visits became a matter of social status.
What is the Third Wave of Coffee?
By 2010, coffee was a ubiquitous drink. Coffee could be had any time during the day and on any occasion. But was this coffee properly sourced? Where did it come from? Were people who worked the most for it paid well? The third wave of coffee is defined by this focus on properly sourced, sustainable and fair-trade coffee. A coffee aficionado who buys coffee today wants to know to which level his/her coffee is roasted and which part of the world it comes from. People prefer to brew specialty coffee with different flavours from the comfort of their own home. The introduction and popularisation of green bean coffee is another key aspect of this wave.
A buzzword around the third wave of coffee is artisanal coffee. But what is artisanal coffee? Apart from being sourced from a high-quality plantation, artisanal coffee is roasted by artisans according to their sense instead of being commercially roasted. Many of the modern-age coffee brands, including yours truly, are what you’d call third-wave coffee roasters.
A very important aspect of the third wave is to give back to the local communities. Nowadays, there is a sense of mutual respect and partnership between coffee growers and coffee roasters, instead of the typical corporate vendor-client relationship.
What’s Next?
Is there going to be the next wave of coffee? Most definitely. In fact, it has already begun.
The 4th wave of coffee is characterized by a heavy focus on scientific methods and concepts, accuracy, technological advancement, and the chemistry of brewing coffee. From using scales to measuring the exact grammage of coffee going into the cup to brewing coffee at just the right temperature, 4th wave is going to be all about the science of brewing the perfect coffee.
Being a third-wave coffee roaster, we at Bombay Island dedicate our time to bringing together the artistic and scientific aspects of brewing. That’s a major reason why we roast and brew coffee the way we do it, with precision and rationality. With our experience centre coming up in Vikhroli (Mumbai), we’re taking the coffee experience to the next level. Read here to know more about it.
We hope this blog answers your questions around the different waves and evolution of coffee. For more coffee knowledge and trivia, be sure to subscribe for our coffee newsletter and follow us on Instagram.
Until next time!