Single origin. You’ve probably seen the phrase in coffee shops and bars up and down the country. It certainly sounds important, earnest almost. Most likely expensive. But definitely intimidating.
But what is single origin coffee, really? And most importantly: does it actually taste different, or is it just something that coffee people say, while nodding vigorously in agreement with each other?
The truth is that it is so much simpler than it sounds. When you break away all of the extra information, it is not about showing off at all, but actually knowing exactly where your coffee comes from, so that you can get some clarity about what you are going to taste in your coffee cup.
Here’s to cutting away the fluff, with the Coffee Bean Shop Guide to Single Origin Coffee.
What does single origin coffee mean?
At its most basic meaning, single origin coffee is simply the coffee that comes from one identifiable place. This could be:
- A single country
- A specific region within that country
- A single farm within that region
- Or even a particular lot from a single harvest
When we ask ‘what does single coffee mean,’ this is it. The more precise the origin, the more traceable the coffee tends to be, and as coffee is a perishable agricultural product, where it is grown and how it is handled there makes a huge difference.
Think about all of the variables at play here: soil composition, altitude (a big deal in coffee growing!), rain fall -or lack of- temperature and even the processing method used to strip the bean from the fruit. Thus a coffee grown high up a mountain in Jamaica is going to taste vastly different to one grown on plains in Brazil. Not better or worse, simply different.
Single origin coffee beans are all about celebrating these unique differences, instead of blending them away. It is about variety that is identifiable, and therefore easy to find when you know what you are looking for in a cup of coffee.
Most single origin coffees you’ll come across are Arabica, which tends to offer more complexity and sweetness than Robusta. If you’re unsure about the difference, our guide to robusta vs arabica breaks it down clearly.
Why origin matters so much
Coffee is grown on trees, and these absorb so much of their environment so it stands to reason that these properties find their way into the final taste. The minerals in the soil, the climate, the coffee processing method all influence how your morning coffee will smell and taste like.
High altitude coffee, for example, often brings out a bright acidity, whereas low altitude coffee leans more towards chocolatey nutty notes. Some regions are known for their floral notes, others for incredibly rich bodies or delicious sweetness.
When you drink a single origin coffee, you are able to taste that specific environment, much like you would with a good wine. So the label is not just telling you the location, it is telling you what sort of experience you should expect. For some people, this is part of the fun. They enjoy noticing detail in their coffee, and being able to identify the characteristic of each origin. With single origin, you are not just drinking “coffee”. You are tasting a place.
Single origin vs blended beans
This is where things get particularly interesting, and inspite of how some people want to make it so, single origin vs blended beans is not actually a battle. It is more about what kind of coffee you are after in that moment, and how you intend to use it.
A coffee blend combines beans from different regions in order to create consistent, balanced results. This is particularly useful for coffee shops making milk based espresso drinks, as they want the coffee to taste the same each time. A good blend will take the sweetness of one bean variety and mix it with the body of another and perhaps the acidity from a third. They all work together to make something new, but consistent.
Yet even blends themselves have some variety. There’s one that may be crafted for potency (hello, Italian Stallion dark blend!), another for its suitability in milky coffee drinks, or other such properties.
Single origin coffee beans, on the other hand, stand alone. They tend to have one or two defining features that are meant to be the main event in the cup. What you taste in the natural profile of that specific coffee. It is for this reason that most are tasted in a black, basic brew, less the flavour be lost among other elements.
In the single origin vs blended beans conversation, there’s really not any winner or loser, just great coffee that perfectly suits each type of drink. But for a quick view guide:
Blends are excellent if you want:
- Consistency week after week
- A balanced, crowd pleasing flavour
- Something dependable for milk based drinks
Single origin coffees are ideal if you want:
- Distinct character
- A sense of place
- To explore how different regions taste
Neither is better or worse, they simply serve different purposes.
The social and environmental side of single origin coffee
It is worth noting that for some people single origin coffee is not just about flavour. It is also about being able to consciously choose what kind of coffee growing industry they are supporting.
Because the coffee comes from one identifiable place, it is easier to understand who grew it and how it was produced. This transparency can make a real difference because when roasters and buyers know the farm or region, relationships tend to be closer, and accountability tends to be clearer: are the workers treated fairly? Are they paid reasonable wages?
Environmental factors matter too. Altitude, rainfall and soil shape flavour, but they also reflect how the land is managed. Sustainable farming practices protect both quality and future harvests. When you see a clearly stated origin, it often means someone along the supply chain cared enough to highlight it.
That does not mean every single origin coffee is automatically more ethical than other versions. But the model certainly encourages visibility, which is then promoted to meet market demands. And where there is visibility, there tends to be better decisions, for farmers, for roasters and for drinkers.
At The Coffee Bean Shop, sourcing is never just about flavour. We work specifically with farms and cooperatives around the world that are reputable, so that every coffee can be traced back to its origin. In fact, for a large proportion of the farms we purchase from, we have visited them ourselves to check first-hand that conditions are fair and that workers are treated like human beings. We want to give you confidence in our beans, by telling you the back-story of every bag you buy from us.
Is single origin coffee always better?
Okay, this is where we need to help reset expectations. Single origin coffee does tend to be more expensive than blended coffee, but that is generally due to the processes used to make it. It is not better than blended coffee, it is simply more specific.
A carefully grown, well-roasted, and expertly brewed single origin can be bright, complex and memorable. But it can also be an intense experience that is different from one type to the next. Not every type is going to be liked by everyone. Much like fruit, no one likes every variety. And there is the issue with single origin coffee - if you are buying a coffee you kinda want to know what to expect. That is what blends are better for. They are smooth and harmonious and predictable. They also make the most satisfying espressos.
If you want to experience different tastes, complexities or experiences, then go for single origin, but it is not superior, it is just different. Like deep pan take away pizza and real hand stretched Italian thin crust: both have their place and both are delicious in their own right.
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So, what is single origin coffee?
By now you should know that single origin isn’t some complicated terminology, but simply means coffee that comes from one clearly defined place. And by being labelled as such, it allows you to identify and taste the unique characteristics of that place. It is specific and traceable and often expressive.
What does single origin coffee mean to those who are fanatical about coffee? It means a whole wide range of flavours, notes, textures and varieties. All within the world of coffee.
At the Coffee Bean Shop, we carefully select the single origin coffees we sell, roasting them with care so that all of the work that goes into them does them justice. We roast them the day of or the day before you order them, and you can even add them to your coffee bean subscription.
Whether you are curious about widening your coffee tasting experience or simply want to try something new and unique, single origins are well worth exploring, and the best way to do that is not to read about it. It is to taste it in a brew yourself.