tags: [] - coffee/history - coffee/culture aliases: - Specialty coffee going mainstream created: 2026-05-10 updated: 2026-05-10
Specialty Coffee Mainstream¶
Tags: #coffee/history #coffee/culture Aliases: Specialty coffee going mainstream Related: Specialty Coffee MoC | Flat White Development | Third Wave Coffee Status: 🌱 Stub
Overview¶
Specialty coffee's entry into the mainstream describes the period from approximately 2012 onward when flat whites, single-origin coffees, and artisanal café culture moved beyond niche enthusiast circles into broader consumer awareness. This shift was evidenced by Starbucks adding the flat white to its US menu in 2015, supermarkets stocking specialty-positioned bags, and mainstream media coverage of third-wave café culture — marking the point at which specialty's vocabulary and aesthetics were absorbed into the broader coffee market.
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