Have you ever noticed the single-origin phrase while drinking coffee in a café? If yes, you might have wondered what the single-origin is and how it is different from other types of coffee beans? Well, do not worry because here we will answer all your questions related to single-origin coffee.
Other than this, you will learn various new things about single-origin coffee through this article. As all coffee lovers might be familiar with it, various types of coffees are available, and each coffee is popular for different reasons.
Some kinds of coffees are popular because of their unique taste, while others are popular because of the aroma or health benefits. Similar to other coffees, there are a few reasons behind the single-origin coffee’s popularity.
What is Single Origin Coffee?
Single-origin coffee is a type of coffee originating from a single producer, crop, or region in one country. If the coffee comes with a single estate or a single farm tag, the coffee is produced from one farm or cooperative.
This type of coffee is famous all around the world. The best thing is that most of the manufacturers add all the information on the coffee label. Therefore, you can even know the origin and details of the single-origin coffee from the label.
However, if the coffee does not come from a single origin, it is a blend. Blended coffee originates from more than one origin or source. Most of the coffee beans that we see in the coffee shops are usually blended.
You can demand the coffee shop owner to provide you with single-origin coffee. However, the single-origin coffee might be a bit more expensive than numerous other coffees available because of various reasons.
The prime reason behind the high price of single-origin coffee is that it is of higher quality. You will enjoy a unique and delicious taste with this type of coffee.
Other than this, it is not available throughout the year like blended coffee. This speciality coffee does not offer year-round offerings because it is harvested only once a year and most of the farmers harvest it when it is ready to deliver peak taste-wise.
Therefore, to enjoy the single-origin coffee, you will need to wait for a specific period to obtain it. Besides, you can use different coffee roasters to make this coffee.
Do Single-Origin Coffees Have a Different Taste?
Yes, single-origin coffee does have a different taste. The taste of coffee depends on various factors, including its growing environment and the process used to produce it.
Other than this, some other factors that can affect the taste of your single-origin coffee are shade, altitude, climate, and soil. Therefore, if you compare the taste of single-origin coffee with other types of coffee, you will discover both have different tastes.
Not only this but also a single-origin coffee bean produced in Brazil will taste different compared to the one originated in Vietnam. The difference in taste is that both Brazil and Vietnam have different climates and altitudes, and their soil might also be different, altering the coffee flavour.
Therefore, depending on the origin of your coffee beans, you will enjoy a different taste. However, in most cases, the single-origin coffee is bolder with an exotic taste.
Also, these types of coffee beans are more robust. Another positive thing about single-origin coffee is that it is more balanced than other types of coffee. All the beans come from the same location, which complements one another, resulting in a more balanced outcome.
How to Make Single Origin Coffee Using Coffee Maker?
No matter what type of coffee you want to make, the process is quite similar. However, if you plan to make single-origin coffee using a coffee maker, you will first need to arrange the coffee beans from a single source.
Single-origin coffee beans make this type of coffee different from others, due to which you should not compromise on the coffee beans.
Steps to Make Single Origin Coffee Using Coffee Maker
- First, you will need to arrange the single-origin coffee. You can visit your nearby coffee shop and purchase quality coffee beans.
- After that, take some water and put it in the water reservoir. You can use cold water or boiled water for this process as per your preference. If you are using tap water, we suggest running it through the water filter to get the best outcome. However, make sure that the water is not distilled because it does not give the desired taste.
- Once you are done adding the desired amount of water, the next thing you need to do is to prep filter. Make sure to arrange the filter so that you get a quality outcome. If your coffee maker already has a reusable stainless-steel filter, you do not need the prep filter.
- Now, you require brewing the coffee grounds. In case you have arranged the pre-ground coffee beans, then the process will get easier for you. However, if you are grinding fresh beans, then adjust their size as per your preference. Some coffee makers allow users to adjust the temperature and time settings, so if you have such a coffee maker, adjust the settings as per the need. Add the coffee beans and start the brewing process.
After the process is completed, your coffee is ready to serve and enjoy.
Difference Between Single Origin and Blend Coffee
Most coffee lovers usually compare the single origin with the blended coffee to know which one is better. Here I will tell you some of the top differences between both these types of coffees.
Flavour
No matter what type of coffee you choose, the flavour is the top priority of every coffee lover. Coffee drinkers want to know whether they will enjoy a delicious flavour with this coffee or not.
Also, if we compare the flavour of blends and single origin, it is quite different. You will get a much brighter outcome with single-origin coffee. Other than this, it also features citrusy or floral notes.
Additionally, the flavour of a single origin may also vary from place to place. The best thing is that this type of coffee offers the purest flavour. This flavour is purest because it comes from a single type of bean.
The beans generated for single-origin come from one place, which helps it to deliver a pure taste. Not only this, but season changes can also alter the single-origin coffee flavour.
Further, if we look at the coffee blends, they give a more nutty, chocolate, and caramel outcome. You will enjoy a homogenous and more balanced flavour with blended coffee.
Unlike single-origin coffee, blended coffee is not susceptible to seasons. Therefore, throughout the year, you will get an almost similar taste of blended coffee.
Traceability
If we talk about traceability, it isn’t easy to trace the origin of blended coffee beans. The reason is that blended coffee does not come from a single source. As the name suggests, it is a blend of various coffee beans.
After mixing coffee beans from different sources, the is blended coffee forms. Most of the information is present on the coffee pack. But if you look at the blend coffee pack, you will only find the country name from where it was collected.
However, the pack will not have any producer or farm information as it does not come from any single source. Besides, single-origin coffee is a bit easier to trace because of its one origin.
You can even know about the farm, producer as well as country with the single-origin coffee. This much information will help you understand the coffee better.
Availability
Availability is another thing that every coffee drinker wants to know before starting to drink any coffee. If we look at the availability of single-origin coffee, it is quite limited. This limited availability of single-origin coffee is because of geographical limitations.
This becomes tougher if the coffee is from a specific farm. Another drawback is that this type of coffee is not available in abundant quantities. Mostly the single-origin coffee is seasonal, which means that you can only enjoy it for a short period within a year.
Therefore, availability is the real concern when it talks about single-origin coffee. On the other hand, if we look at blended coffee, it has no such issue. It is quite easy to access and is available throughout the year.
The reason behind the vast availability of blended coffee is that it contains various types of beans which you can access any time of the year. So, availability is not a concern in terms of blended coffee.
Cost
You might be familiar with the fact that rare things are usually expensive. If we look at the single-origin beans, they are rare and are present for a few months within a year. Due to this, single-origin coffee beans are usually costly.
On the other hand, blended coffee is common throughout the year, so its cost is reasonable. So, if you want to enjoy coffee at a budget-friendly cost, you should prefer blended coffee beans. But if you want to experience the unique flavour, then go for a single-origin coffee.
Single Origin VS. Blend Coffee – Which One is Better?
Most coffee drinkers usually question which type of coffee has a better taste and is worth drinking. Well, the answer to this question is based on your personal preference. Both types of coffees are unique, with different flavours and aromas.
Some people like the blended version of coffee, while others prefer single-origin coffee. However, if you want to experience a unique flavour, the single-origin will be ideal. On the other hand, the coffee blend is recommended to those who desire a balanced and smooth cup of coffee.
The coffee produced from a single-origin bean is usually brighter and presents citrusy or floral notes. However, it would help if you remembered that even the single-origin coffee taste might also vary from place to place.
These single-origin quality beans generated from one source may have a different taste than those single-origin coffee beans produced from other parts of the world.
Therefore, while preferring this kind of coffee, you may also check its origin to know what flavour profile you will get. On the other hand, blended coffee usually has a constant taste, making it more predictable. So, the processing conditions for both these coffees are different.
Conclusion
Coffee beans that arrive from one place, crop, or producer are known as single-origin coffee. You will notice a single farm or a single estate tag with these types of coffee beans.
Whether you want to know the origin, country, small farms, etc., you can get all such information from the coffee label. So, you will not find it hard to know about single-origin coffee. At the same time, the coffee beans generated from different sources are called blended coffee.
If you compare the popularity of the coffee blend with the single-origin in the coffee industry, you will learn that the coffee blend is the clear winner. Blended coffee is popular because it is easier to access and is available throughout the year.
Also, the cost of a coffee blend is much less than the single-origin coffee. Therefore, if you want to enjoy coffee without paying hefty bills, then try the coffee blends. Besides, you can also try single-origin coffee because of the uniqueness it offers.
Apart from the cost, single-origin coffee is worth experiencing because of its rare taste and pureness. The purity provided by this type of coffee is a bit rare and is only available in a few coffee types.
