Single origin coffee

About Single Origin Coffee

Dreaming about exciting journeys to the coffee plantations located in the farthest corners of the globe? Single-origin coffee invites you to set out on just such an adventure—and without stepping outside your home too! Each single-origin variety reaches coffee drinkers from the very same coffee-growing region, which lets curious connoisseurs experience the unique flavours crafted by the local microclimate, soil, and traditional farming practices. From Ethiopia to Colombia, these handpicked coffee beans are full of unexpected discoveries. Your journey starts here: delve into the world of single-origin coffees, and discover your new favourite flavour! 

Single Origin Coffee: What Is It All About?

The packaging of your coffee may contain one of these terms: ‘single-origin’ or ‘blend’. While blends are made up of coffee beans grown in various corners of the globe, single-origin coffees consist of beans that can be traced to the same region, or even the same coffee farm at times. Let’s find out what makes coffee varieties grown in different continents unique! 

African coffee. Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda… Coffee beans grown in these countries often boast notes of fruit, berries, flowers, tea or wine. They tend to be very juicy too. When sipping on a brew like this, you may even start wondering if it’s truly coffee you’re drinking!

Asian coffee. Beans grown in and around Myanmar or Vietnam are marked by bitter, “heavier” tasting notes, such as spices, chocolate, tobacco, red wine, or wood. 

South American coffee. Originating from Brazil, Colombia or Peru, South American coffee varieties tend to be well-balanced and naturally sweet. You may detect notes of chocolate, nuts or fruit in them. In general, coffee from South America is less acidic than the one from Africa, and more delicate than the one from Asia.

Central American coffee. When it comes to coffees from Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica or Nicaragua, they boast an exceptionally wide flavour profile: from tropical fruit to various nuts. All Central American varieties are particularly bold though—once you’ve tried enough coffees from this region, you can easily tell them apart from the others.

Single-Origin Coffee Beans, Ground Coffee, Specialty Coffee: Which One Is Best?

The truth is, there’s no single answer here. Different single-origin coffees are suited best for different brewing methods (espresso or filter, for example), and they can come in a variety of forms (whole coffee beans, pre-ground coffee, or premium-quality specialty coffee)—which means that each variety boasts its own advantages. On the whole, however, any single-origin coffee is an excellent choice for those who value high quality and unique nuances of flavour.

Single Origin Coffee Beans

Coffee beans will appeal to those who want to be in control of every little step involved in the brewing process. You can grind whole beans yourself, adapting them to your preferred method: be it a bean-to-cup appliance, an espresso machine, a filter coffee maker, a moka pot, a French press, a Chemex, an Aeropress, a cold brew tool, a percolator, or a coffee dripper. What should you pay attention to when making your choice though? While it’s generally recommended to go for single-origin beans of a light to medium roast, any roast level will surprise you with a wide range of intense aromas and bold flavours. Coffee Friend’s range of products includes coffee beans of various tastes from a number of producers, yet our sincerest recommendations go to Black Crow White Pigeon, our very own specialty coffee bean line. Loved and appreciated by coffee connoisseurs, these single-origin varieties offer unique flavour experiences and dozens of intriguing discoveries. 

Single-Origin Ground coffee

Ground coffee is the ideal choice for those looking for exceptional flavours and aromas obtained with more ease. This type of coffee is usually ground with a particular brewing tool in mind, so consider which one you plan on using: is it a bean-to-cup machine, an espresso appliance, a filter coffee maker, a moka pot, a French press, a Chemex, an Aeropress, a cold brew coffee maker, a percolator, or a pour-over brewing tool? Like coffee beans, ground single-origin coffees are at their best when they’re light- or medium-roasted. Expect to encounter bold flavours and pronounced aromas typical of a certain coffee-growing region: for your convenience, you can use our taste guide to discover coffees marked by your favourite tasting notes, be it fruit, chocolate or tree bark. When browsing through our range of single-origin varieties, we suggest you consider giving Coffee Friend’s own Black Crow White Pigeon ground coffees a try. They’re available in a variety of grind sizes: from fine to coarse. 

Specialty coffee

Specialty coffee boasts a particularly high quality, assessed as it is based on a set of strict criteria. You already know that single-origin coffee can be traced to a specific region or farm, which adds another layer of transparency and guarantees a higher quality. While single-origin coffee is frequently referred to as ‘specialty’, it is not necessarily so. If a certain single-origin variety hasn’t been evaluated and granted the ‘specialty’ title by the Specialty Coffee Association, this means that it isn’t quite up there with the world’s finest coffees. On the other hand, most, if not all, specialty coffees are single-origin too: that’s because they’re rarely mixed with other varieties, and are considered to be unique enough to stand on their own. If you’re looking for the middle ground between specialty coffee and coffee blends, we’ve got the ideal solution: it’s Coffee Friend’s own line of blends called Parallel. Those keen on giving specialty varieties a try should browse through our Black Crow White Pigeon specialty coffee range though.

Arabica or Robusta?

Before you buy a certain single-origin coffee, consider the type of coffee beans that goes into it. There are two main types of beans out there: they’re called arabica and robusta. While there are some single-origin arabica and robusta blends on the market, most single-origin varieties are made up of 100% arabica. This type of coffee is usually marked by bold, exotic notes. Arabica and robusta blends tend to be less vivid, which results in a more well-balanced taste overall. 

Single-Origin Coffee vs. Coffee Blends: What’s the Difference?

Both single-origin coffee and coffee blends boast their own unique advantages. If you like to experiment and discover new nuances of flavour, single-origin coffee is bound to be a great choice. Fans of consistency and balance may enjoy coffee blends more though.

As you know already, what makes single-origin coffee special is the fact that it only includes beans grown in the very same continent or region. This results in truly exceptional flavours, which can’t be confused with anything else. These unique varieties are best savoured with no additional ingredients, like milk or sugar, which makes them suited perfectly for espresso or similar brewing methods. You’ve also learned that when it comes to single-origin varieties, your best bet is a light to medium roast.

Unlike single-origin coffees, coffee blends contain beans from a number of different regions. They’re suited well for both regular black coffees and milk-based drinks, which makes blends a more flexible choice. Most coffee blends are marked by a medium to dark roast, and they’re suited great for bean-to-cup machines, yet do not pair as well with manual brewing tools. 

Need Help? 

We’ve got over 100 different types of coffee on offer, so we’re here if you need some help choosing! Just reach out by sending us a message or giving us a call.