The Rise of Specialty Coffee: A Historical Perspective

Ever wondered how coffee went from a bland commodity to a crafted experience? The story isn’t about marketing—it’s about people who refused to settle. From post-war America to 1990s London, the rise of specialty coffee wasn’t overnight. It was driven by immigrants, migrants, and a few stubborn roasters who believed coffee could be more than instant.

In short: Specialty coffee became mainstream through a chain of key moments—Alfred Peet’s pioneering roastery in 1966, the founding of Starbucks in 1971, Howard Schultz’s transformation in 1987, and the UK’s coffee boom starting in 1995. Each step shifted public perception of what coffee could be.

The "Dark Age" of Coffee and Hidden Gems

Before the specialty coffee movement, the industry went through a "dark age." But even then, high-quality coffee existed—if you knew where to look. Independent coffee shops, often run by Arab, Turkish, Greek, and Italian immigrants, served carefully roasted Arabica beans. These weren’t corporate spaces but community hubs for poetry readings and cultural exchange.

The Birth of a Movement: Alfred Peet and the Craft of Roasting

In 1966, Alfred Peet—known as the "grandfather of specialty coffee"—opened Peet’s Coffee & Tea in Berkeley, California. A 35-year-old immigrant from the Netherlands, Peet introduced artisanal roasting techniques that highlighted each coffee’s unique characteristics. His approach wasn’t mass-market; it was meticulous, small-batch, and deeply flavorful. His loyal customers became some of the first coffee enthusiasts in the U.S.

From Peet’s to Starbucks: The First Wave of Expansion

Peet’s methods inspired a Seattle couple, Jerry Baldwin and Gordon Bowker. In 1971, they opened Starbucks in Seattle, applying Peet’s roasting style to build their own following. Starbucks in the '70s and early '80s focused solely on selling high-quality roasted beans—not yet the café experience we know today.

Howard Schultz and the Café Transformation

In 1984, Howard Schultz, then Starbucks’ retail and marketing director, pushed to expand into cafés after experiencing Milan’s coffeehouse culture. He envisioned American coffee shops that served espresso drinks in a social setting. When Baldwin and Bowker declined, Schultz left in 1985, opened his own shop “Il Giornale,” and used Starbucks’ beans. By 1987, he had bought Starbucks and began rapid expansion, growing to 1,000 stores within a decade.

The UK Coffee Scene: From Marketing Grads to Coffee Entrepreneurs

The UK’s specialty coffee boom started in 1995. Scott and Ally Svenson, marketing and design students from Seattle with no coffee knowledge, studied at the Coffee Connection and fell in love with the craft. They returned to London determined to import and roast their own beans. Their first café, a Seattle Coffee Company location in Covent Garden, was a hit. As demand grew, they merged businesses and expanded to 60 locations by 1998—just before Starbucks entered the UK market.

Coffee Becomes Everyday—and Elevated

By the late '90s, coffee culture had transformed. Cafés were on nearly every British street corner, and drinks like cappuccinos and lattes became staples. The price of a latte was even used to measure UK inflation. More importantly, coffee became a reason to sit, relax, read, and converse. The variety of beans, brewing methods, and equipment expanded—and the so-called "dark age" of coffee was finally over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is considered the grandfather of specialty coffee?

Alfred Peet, who founded Peet’s Coffee & Tea in Berkeley, California in 1966, is widely known as the "grandfather of specialty coffee" for introducing artisanal roasting techniques that emphasized coffee’s unique flavors.

How did Starbucks start?

Starbucks was founded in 1971 in Seattle by Jerry Baldwin and Gordon Bowker, who were inspired by Alfred Peet’s roasting style. Initially, it focused on selling high-quality roasted beans, not brewed drinks.

What role did Howard Schultz play in Starbucks’ growth?

Howard Schultz joined Starbucks in 1982, pushed for a café-style expansion after visiting Milan in 1984, left in 1985 to start his own shop “Il Giornale,” bought Starbucks in 1987, and expanded it to 1,000 stores within ten years.

When did specialty coffee take off in the UK?

Specialty coffee began gaining traction in the UK around 1995, led by former marketing students who studied coffee roasting, opened successful cafés, and helped make coffee a daily social staple by the late '90s.

What ended the 'dark age' of coffee?

The 'dark age' of coffee ended as specialty coffee spread globally—from Peet’s in the U.S. to independent cafés in the UK—culminating in the 1990s when coffee became a widely enjoyed, socially shared experience with diverse beans and brewing styles.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Exploring Coffee History

To taste the roots of specialty coffee, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Gedeb Cooperative (bright citrus and floral notes), Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 (classic Typica balance with chocolate and almond tones), and Brazil Queen Manor Yellow Bourbon (smooth with caramelized sugar and nutty depth). These beans represent key origins and varieties that shaped modern specialty coffee. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.