Specialty Coffee Steps into the Spotlight at James Beard Awards
When the James Beard Awards—food industry’s Oscars—turned their gaze to coffee, the specialty world took notice. For the first time, a coffee shop made it to the shortlist alongside restaurants, bars, and wine counters. Arkansas-based Onyx Coffee Lab, a roastery with roots in craft coffee since 2015, has landed a semi-finalist nod in the Outstanding Bar category. The recognition isn’t just a win for Onyx—it’s a seismic shift for an industry long sidelined by mainstream culinary acclaim. Onyx’s 1907 location, a sprawling 30,000-square-foot café and roastery, embodies the ethos of modern specialty coffee. It’s not just about beans; it’s about…