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  This term was first coined by Erna Knutsen at an international coffee conference in France in 1978 (SCAA). The concept is that special geographic microclimates produce beans with unique flavour profiles that were referred to as "specialty coffee". To capture the unique flavours of specialty coffee an understanding that care and skills must be the thread in the process from seed to cup. Coffee cherry must be harvested at the right time, green beans freshly roasted and properly brewed.  

   
 

  Fair trade emerged in the late 1980's and represents a third-party certification body, whichaimed to provide a more equitable price to coffee producers. The program guarantees the coffee producer a minimum price for their beans. Farmers pay for certification and are locked into a contract. As with all these certification programs, costs can be difficult for small farmers. TransFair says most cooperatives pay annual certification fees that range from $2,500 to $10,000, though discounts are available for smaller groups.  

   
 

  Direct Trade emerged more recently from the roaster's dissatisfaction with third-partycertification programs and they want more involvement with the growers. Direct trade simply means the roaster buys their beans directly from the farm that grow them. Thebusiness model of direct trade is to seek a method of sound sustainable agriculture as a route to better coffee and to give the prices above fair trade premium base on quality. Most often,the roasters are connected to growers though tasting competitions. The most prestigious of these are the annual Cup of Excellence.  

   
 

  Swiss Water Process is a de-caffeination process that uses pure water from British Columbia, Canada to gently remove the caffeine until the coffee beans are 99.9% caffeine-free, while maintaining the bean's distinctive origin and flavor characteristics.  

   
 

  The ETP is an initiative started within the tea industry to monitor and regulate the living and working conditions on tea estates. The organization is run and regulated by member companies and bolstered by regular external audits by Price Waterhouse Cooper. (The global accounting firm responsible for tabulating and guarding votes for the Academy Awards.) The goal of the organization is to provide consumers with a complete understanding of where tea is grown and manufactured. Everything from fair compensation to health coverage, housing and childcare comes under scrutiny.