If you've ever wondered where your coffee comes from, you've probably come across the terms 'single origin coffee' and 'coffee blends'. These often misunderstood labels, can tell you a lot about the beans that make up your morning brew. 

In this article, we'll be breaking down what these terms mean, how they impact the taste of your coffee and the differences between the two.

Where does coffee come from?

When looking at single origin and blended coffee, it is important to understand where coffee comes from and how it is sourced. 

Coffee plants require warm, humid conditions to grow, with sufficient rainfall and a balance of sunshine and shade. These conditions are most commonly found around the equator (between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn), in a region referred to as the ‘Bean Belt’. 

Spanning over 3,200 miles from one end to the other, the ‘Bean Belt’ includes regions such as South America (including Brazil, Columbia and Ecaudor), North America (including Cuba, Guatemala and Mexico),  Africa (including Ethiopia and Kenya) and Asia (including Thailand, India and Vietnam). With millions of hectares of coffee farms throughout the Bean Belt, it puts into perspective the vast scope of places your coffee could come from.

What is Single Origin Coffee?

Single origin coffee refers to coffee sourced from one specific geographical location. This can include a specific country (like Brazil or Columbia), region (such as the Yirgacheffe region of Ethiopia), crop or producer. 

You may also have heard of ‘single farm’ or ‘single estate’ coffee, which is coffee sourced from just one farm or grower. This can even include beans sourced from one particular plot on the farm or one specific crop variety, also known as a ‘micro lot’. Due to this specificity, some micro lot coffee is only available at certain times of the year.

The conditions a coffee is grown in play a big role in its final flavour. Everything from altitude to soil type, rainfall to cultivation method, have an impact on the taste. As single origin coffee comes from one specific location, its unique flavour profile is more apparent. This makes it popular with those looking to explore different taste profiles and experiment with their every day brew. 

Another topic that is often associated with single origin coffee is traceability. As single origin coffee is not blended with any other kind of bean, it can be easier to trace exactly where it came from. This can encourage greater transparency in the coffee supply chain, with more light shone on ensuring ethical practices and fair treatment of workers and farmers.

What is a Coffee Blend?

A coffee blend includes coffee sourced from a variety of locations. This can include different countries, regions and coffee types (such as arabica or robusta beans). 

Much like perfume or tea, a coffee blend allows you to carefully select beans with different flavour profiles and combine them to create a balanced, complex brew. For example, we combine the nutty notes of Central American beans with the fruity flavours of Ethopian beans in our Daily Grind Blend, to create a balanced, easy-to-drink coffee that is reminiscent of fruit and nut granola. Coffee blends are often less overpowering than single origin coffee, with a more rounded taste that often has a wider appeal. Additionally, due to their more balanced taste, they make good bases for cappuccinos, lattes and other popular drinks.

Other advantages of coffee blends include consistency and availability. Unlike single origin coffee, that may only be available at a particular time of year and may vary in taste, coffee blends are not dependent on growing seasons or conditions. A producer can carefully blend different beans to ensure the same taste, all year round. 

Single origin vs Coffee Blends

Advantages of Single Origin Coffee

• Unique Flavour Profile: A key factor in the taste of a coffee are the conditions in which its grown, including altitude, soil type and rainfall. As single origin coffee comes from one location, it's unique flavour profile is more apparent - as the taste is not mixed with that of any other bean. 
• Traceability and Transparency: As single origin coffee comes from one location it can be easier to trace back to its source. This may lead to more transparency in the supply chain, with greater focus on ethical and fair trade practices. 

Disadvantages of Single Origin Coffee

• Limited Availability: Because single origin coffees are tied to one specific region and harvest, they are often only available seasonally. 
• More Overpowering Flavours: While the complexity of single origin coffee is part of its charm, some find the flavours too intense or acidic for everyday drinking.

Advantages of Coffee Blends

• Balanced, Harmonious Flavours: Coffee blends combine the flavour profiles of several beans to create a balanced, well-rounded end product. This makes them great for everyday drinking or as milk-based drinks, such as cappuccinos or lattes.
• Same Great Taste All Year Round: A key benefit of coffee blends is consistency and availability. As they combine beans from multiple locations, they are not as directly affected by seasonal availability and growing conditions (as single origin coffee). As a coffee drinker, you can enjoy the taste of your favourite coffee all-year round, with every cup tasting as delicious as the last.

Disadvantages of Single Origin Coffee

• Less distinct, unique flavour compared to single origin: A common disadvantage of coffee blends is that they can lack the distinct, unique flavours found in single origin coffees. Because blends combine beans from multiple regions, the individual characteristics of each origin can be muted - resulting in a smoother but less distinctive cup.