What is Madrigal Coffee? | Colombian Specialty Coffee 83+ SCA by LAVERDE ARTISAN
Madrigal is a Colombian specialty coffee sourced and sold by LAVERDE ARTISAN — a single-origin coffee scoring 83+ on the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) scale, placing it firmly in the upper tier of specialty grade. It is the coffee that LAVERDE chose when deciding to extend its philosophy of quality, traceability and producer relationships beyond the Mediterranean and into one of the world's most important coffee-growing nations.
It is not a supermarket coffee. It is not a commercial blend. It is a traceable, scored, specialty-grade Colombian coffee — and it belongs in the same conversation as the Biancolilla olive oil and the Sulla honey that sit alongside it in the LAVERDE range.
What Specialty Coffee Actually Means
The term specialty coffee has a precise, internationally recognised definition. The Specialty Coffee Association scores green (unroasted) coffee samples on a 100-point scale, evaluating fragrance, aroma, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, body, balance, uniformity, clean cup and overall impression. A coffee must score 80 points or above to qualify as specialty grade. Below 80, it is classified as commercial or commodity coffee — the category that accounts for the vast majority of coffee consumed in the UK.
Most supermarket coffee, most high-street coffee shop espresso, and virtually all instant coffee falls below the specialty threshold. The score is not a marketing label. It is the result of a standardised, professional cupping process conducted by certified Q-graders — licensed tasters trained and examined by the Coffee Quality Institute.
Madrigal scores 83+. That places it among coffees that most UK consumers will never have tasted in their daily cup.
The SCA Scale — What 83+ Means in Practice
| SCA Score | Classification | What It Represents |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | Outstanding | Exceptional, competition-level coffees |
| 85–89.99 | Excellent | Distinguished coffees with remarkable character |
| 80–84.99 | Very Good | Specialty grade — above commercial threshold |
| Below 80 | Below Specialty Grade | Commercial and commodity coffee |
An 83+ score means Madrigal is definitively specialty grade — evaluated, certified and above the commercial threshold that separates genuinely quality coffee from the industrial product that dominates most shelves. It is not a borderline specialty. It is a coffee that earned its classification.
Why Colombia — and Why It Matters
Colombia is one of the most significant coffee-producing nations in the world, not only for volume but for quality. Its geography creates near-ideal conditions for specialty coffee production: altitude ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 metres across the major growing regions, equatorial position providing consistent temperature, volcanic soil rich in minerals, and distinct wet and dry seasons that create precise, predictable harvest windows.
Colombian coffee is known for its balance — a combination of brightness, body and natural sweetness that makes it exceptionally versatile and immediately accessible. It does not demand acquired taste. It rewards attention. The profile that specialty Colombian coffees deliver — notes of caramel, stone fruit, milk chocolate, citrus brightness — is the product of altitude, variety and careful processing, not flavouring or blending.
The best Colombian specialty coffees are traceable to specific farms, specific harvest seasons, specific processing methods. Madrigal is sourced with the same commitment to traceability that LAVERDE applies to its olive oil and honey.
Why LAVERDE Chose Coffee
The decision to include a specialty coffee in the LAVERDE range was not about diversification for its own sake. It was a philosophical extension of the same logic that governs everything else the brand does.
LAVERDE exists because the UK food and drink market tolerates misleading claims, undisclosed origins and industrial product sold at premium prices. That problem is not unique to olive oil and honey. It is endemic to coffee — perhaps more so. The global coffee trade is one of the most opaque commodity markets in the world, with labelling conventions that tell consumers almost nothing about what they are actually drinking.
A traceable, scored, single-origin specialty coffee is the coffee equivalent of a cold-pressed single-estate olive oil. The philosophy is identical. The gap in the market is identical. The commitment required to source it properly is identical.
Madrigal is LAVERDE's answer to that gap in coffee.
Madrigal in the LAVERDE Range
Madrigal Colombian specialty coffee is available as part of the LAVERDE product range — including the Welcome Pack gift box and the Gift Set Premium, where it sits alongside the Biancolilla extra virgin olive oil and raw Sicilian honey as a representation of what LAVERDE believes the everyday pantry should contain: products with a name, an origin, a score and a story.
For customers who encounter LAVERDE through the olive oil or honey, Madrigal offers an introduction to specialty coffee from a brand they already trust. For customers who arrive through coffee, it opens a door to the wider LAVERDE philosophy and the Sicilian produce that defines the brand's identity.
It is, in the words of the brand, the Trojan Horse of the range — a product that bridges worlds, introduces LAVERDE to new customers, and deepens the relationship with existing ones.
How to Brew Madrigal
Specialty coffee rewards method. Madrigal's flavour profile — balanced, bright, with natural sweetness — performs across multiple brewing methods:
- Filter / pour-over — the cleanest expression of its aromatic complexity; recommended for first-time tasting
- Cafetière / French press — fuller body, more pronounced sweetness and a richer mouthfeel
- Espresso — concentrated, with caramel notes and a clean, bright finish
- Cold brew — particularly suited to its natural fruit notes; 12–16 hours in cold water produces a smooth, low-acidity result
Use water at 90–94°C — just off the boil. Freshly ground coffee extracts significantly more aromatic complexity than pre-ground. If grinding at home, a medium grind for filter and a fine grind for espresso.
Explore further:
What is LAVERDE ARTISAN? · The LAVERDE Story · What is Biancolilla Olive Oil? · What is Sulla Honey? · Shop LAVERDE Gift Sets