Single Origin Coffee vs Blends. which is right for you?

If you get your caffeine fix from independent coffee shops, you’ve probably found yourself staring at these two words, written in chalk or on the typical hipster letter board: ‘single origin’. What an exotic buzzword! Is it just a pretentious way to describe coffee? Let’s see (spoiler alert: it’s not).

What is Single Origin Coffee?

To cut a long story short, ‘single origin’ means that the beans are all sourced from the same place. And when light roasted, these beans make great cold brew and pour over coffee. No major plot-twist. Of course, leaving it here would be like saying that coffee was just a drink. We all know there’s so much more to it.

Let’s dive (not literally) into the depths of single origin coffee.

So what does ‘single origin’ actually mean? Well, there are different types of geographical origins that are included in this umbrella term.

Single country or region

The beans are all sourced from the same country. You might have heard of Honduran, Colombian or Peruvian beans, for example. Nowadays, though, the term feels far too broad, almost more appropriate for a blend (don’t panic: we’ll get to those later). Think of a big country like Brazil: with its different microclimates, it’s only natural that there will be undeniable differences between beans that are harvested in northern regions and those in the south.

Single farm and cooperative

These are beans that are grown within a single farm. Shaped by the levels of rain, farmers’ traditions, specific growing conditions and processing methods, this coffee is a unique product of that particular time and place. Because it’s bound to a harvesting season and has very limited availability, it’s more expensive, but also of very high quality.

Since some farms aren’t big enough to supply satisfying amounts of coffee, it’s common to find beans that come from the same cooperative instead.

Micro-lot and nano-lot

The finest coffee connoisseurs can purchase beans that come from a particular lot (or an even smaller nano-lot) in a specific farm. It certainly doesn’t get any more exclusive than this.

You can learn more about micro-lot coffee here.

Single Origin vs Blends

Blends, as the name suggests, are a mixture of coffee beans sourced from different locations and processed together. The majority of coffee blends combine beans that come from two to four places, but some coffee roasters might mix even eight or nine. They can come from different regions within the same geographic area, or from totally separate countries around the world. If you wish to learn more about blends, here’s where we discussed what a coffee blend is in detail.

Coffee roasters create blends to craft a unique, consistent flavor. The next time you get lost in front of the blackboard of your local independent coffee shop, try and spot their house blend.

Bear in mind that mixing single origin beans is not easy: combining the wrong types might result in a bland or unpleasant taste. It requires both skill and extensive knowledge (1).

Let’s look at the main differences between single origin beans and coffee blends.

Availability

Due to its geographical limitations, single origin coffee has extremely limited availability. Especially when it’s sourced from a specific farm, it’s seasonal and can’t be produced in abundant quantities. Because blends combine different types of beans, they are available all year round.

Cost

Rare = more expensive, of course. Since single origin beans are so exclusive, they’re also more expensive than blends.

Traceability

When the beans are all grown in the same place, you’ll know exactly where your coffee comes from. This helps promote sustainability and fair-trade, which have often been lacking in the coffee industry, both historically and presently.

Flavor

Many people and coffee connoisseurs in particular seem to prefer the immersive experience offered by single origin, which is regarded as coffee in its purest form (1):

On the other hand, given an infinite amount of mixing possibilities, each blend is also unique and consistent, and offers a more layered and well-rounded drinking experience.

So, Which is the Best Single Origin Coffee?

Well, you decide! As I’m sure you know by now, single origin and blends are very different, so it all depends on how you prefer to enjoy your cup of joe.

If you usually drink coffee on the go, add lots of milk and sugar, and appreciate the consistency of its flavor, then you should probably go for a blend.

A good place to start – a guide of all the best coffee beans and regions.

Why Not Consider a Single Origin Coffee Subscription?

They say you can’t buy happiness, but you can get different single origin beans delivered straight to your door periodically, and that’s kind of the same thing.

If you want to take your coffee knowledge and experience to the next level, you’ll love trying different exotic types of beans and discovering the unique story behind each harvest. There are several companies that offer subscription services.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it past all the technical terms (they weren’t as bad as you thought, were they?) and are still here, I’ll take it that you enjoyed learning about the provenance of beans.

Now that you know what single origin coffee is, I’m sure the blackboard of your local café will be much easier to decipher. You can even get know what each single origin coffee smell and taste like through coffee cupping! Here’s how to do it.

So what do you think? Are you more of an ‘I’ll have the usual house blend on the go’ type or an ‘Ethiopian Nano Challa, please. Black’?