Specialty coffee is defined through the harvesting, roasting and brewing process in which it is made. It is brewed to very high standards and is considered a lot better tasting but as well more expensive than other coffee.
Beans with no defects are selected as they will have the best taste. Then, once the brewing begins the right coffee beans to water ratio must be used in order to create the perfect brew. It can be brewed in any way, as long as the greatest possible taste is still achieved.
Many people have the illusion that a specialty coffee is defined by how it is prepared once it has been brewed, whether by adding chocolate or any other way. This is not true as specialty coffees do differ from flavored coffees. Flavored coffees have artificially added flavors where as a specialty coffee has a great taste that has been created through the entire process prior to the preparation.
Specialty coffee has such a unique flavor. If you have never tried it I cannot emphasize how much better tasting it is than regular coffee. The flavor that it contains would be nearly impossible to discover through a regular branded coffee that you purchase at your grocery store.
Specialty Coffees are sampled in a way called "cupping". This is similar to how wines are tasted. They are judged based on different categories such as aroma, fragrance, aftertaste and taste. Professionals at all stages of the production process taste the specialty coffees to assure that they are up to standards.