Specific heats are our way to simplify the fact that different materials can absorb and hold energy in different ways. Temperature is the macroscopic way we see this energy storage. However, metals and water hold that energy in very different ways and it takes more to make water change temperature than it does metal for that reason. Instead of having to look at the microscopic ways the energy is stored we use the term specific heat to define a property that simplifies it. Just remember Cp = constant pressure and Cv = constant volume.
