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7 popular third-wave coffee brands you can buy online - including Stumptown, Blue Bottle, and Intelligentsia
7 popular third-wave coffee brands you can buy online - including Stumptown, Blue Bottle, and Intelligentsia
Connie Chen,Connie ChenNov 10, 2018, 02:08 IST
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Whereas first wave coffee is characterized by increased accessibility and consumption, and second wave coffee by specialty flavors and the social experience of sitting down at a cafe (think: Starbucks), third wave coffee has forged the most meaningful relationship between customer and cup thus far.
Third wave coffee, which took off during the mid-90s to early 2000s, means that roasters focus on transparency, seasonality, and customer experience. Fair and direct trade practices are central to the business, and customers can learn exactly where their beans came from and how growing partners and farmers are treated. The devotion to the craft and ritual of coffee is clear from the moment you walk through the doors of the beautifully designed coffee shop, and though your cup of joe is expensive, you have to admit - you can taste the difference.
More often than not, these third wave coffee shops in San Francisco, Portland, New York City, and other major hubs aren't casual pit stops on the way to another destination. They are the final destination, and coffee lovers can't imagine a more exciting pilgrimage than the trek to obtain this specialty coffee.
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While visiting the coffee shop is the best way to enjoy its blends, the next best option if there's no location near you or you want to make it yourself at home is to find it online. Knowing that bags from these coffee roasters are stocked in your pantry, you'll wake up eager to start your morning routine.
Shop the following third wave coffee brands online:
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The Chicago-based Intelligentsia says it's the first specialty coffee company to adopt Direct Trade practices, meaning it collaborates directly with the coffee grower, the grower must commit to sustainable environmental and social practices, and growers are paid at least 25% above Fair Trade price. Its sweet and syrupy Black Cat Project Espresso is a flavorful standout.
Philz is being called the next Blue Bottle, having raised $75 million to continue its dominance in the Bay Area and expand beyond. The quirky shop offers a wide range of blends, and its Mint Mojito Iced Coffee has inspired many an internet copycat recipe. Based on how packed its cafes always are, it's clear that loyal customers appreciate its creative coffee and complex flavors.
If you're visiting Portland, make sure to stop by Direct Trade coffee purveyor Stumptown. It boasts a distinct vision that has "always been a little left-of-center," from its extreme attention to detail to the way it treats its customers and coffee farmers. Stumptown's first and most popular blend is the Hair Bender, made up of beans from Indonesia, Latin America, and Africa.
Founded on the premise that "America Deserves Better Coffee," this Philadelphia roaster is always innovating in the coffee space. It's hard not to walk around and spot one of its cans of creamy Draft Latte in someone's hand. The cold-pressed espresso is combined with lactose-free milk, and there's no added sugar, so you get a healthier coffee fix.
The mid-'90s were a great time, particularly for those who got to experience the beginnings of Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, North Carolina. Its delicious coffee comes from sustainable farms around the world, and the company has developed multiple programs and initiatives to maintain standards of sustainability. Take advantage of its limited-release blends for the best seasonal experience.
One of the newer entrants to the third-wave coffee club opened its full coffeehouse in San Francisco in 2011, but the founders have been working in coffee since their teens. Find this high-quality coffee in Bay Area institutions like SFMOMA, or get enjoy blends like the heavy, chocolate-y Banner Dark Blend every morning at home.
