Specialty Coffee: Single Origin vs Blends

The coffee industry is thriving more than ever as roasters fine-tune their craft and farmers strive to produce higher quality crops. In between, coffee enthusiasts develop their refined taste for richer brews and stray away from your average cup of joe. Gone are the days of mainstream coffee chains and now we are living in the times of the specialty coffee movement, paving the way for complex, outlier flavor profiles.

That’s why you’ll see “blends” more and more on offer and on-par with another buzzword in the world of coffee known as a single origin. Both options offer a unique experience — one that guarantees a smoother palate while the other shocks the taste buds with exotic characteristics. With that in mind, what exactly defines blends and single-origin coffee?
 

Single-Origin Coffee

As the name suggests, single-origin coffee comes from a traceable farm, though shops and roasters can source from different farmers to offer seasonal coffee. Single-origin coffee became all-the-rage as it produces untouched flavors, which means you can taste the nuances of the beans without any curation done by the roaster.

Seeing as the beans get their unique flavor profile from how they were farmed and are a product of the precise conditions in the area where they were grown, there are unlimited possibilities when it comes to taste. These flavor possibilities make up the beauty of single-origin coffee and why they are becoming the hottest commodity in coffee shops today.

You can taste the full brunt of fruity notes from Ethiopian coffee to the robust sweetness of Guatemalan coffee. Many prefer the caramelized, saccharine essence of Brazilian coffee, but no matter what profile you gravitate towards, you can bet that single-origin coffee will offer diverse, bold, and exotic flavors.
 

Coffee Blends

Merging flavorful and complimentary notes, coffee blends often hit the spot since they strive to deliver a consistent product. House blends often combine the best characteristics of different coffee beans. For example, our Espresso Blend combines the fruity notes of Ethiopian coffee with the mellow, caramelized flavor of Brazilian coffee to create a sweeter profile.

Blends remove the outlier flavors and other quirky notes to create a more consistent and approachable brew. This doesn’t mean that blends are boring, they can truly offer deeper and complex brews since they can highlight the exciting notes of single origins, while being balanced out with the dependable flavors you might be used to. Their consistency, shot pulling characteristics for espresso, and long-term blend enjoyment makes coffee blends a lasting favorite in coffee shops worldwide.
 

The Bottom Line: Knowing the Nuanced Differences Between Blends and Single Origin Coffee to Brew the Perfect Cup

Coffee blends and single origins both pack a flavorful punch, but the different techniques offer a refreshing take on the world’s go-to pick-me-up. The flavor diversity from single origins can be a wild experience for enthusiasts, though its intensity isn’t for everyone. Nonetheless, blends and single origins present the best of both coffee worlds.
 

Are You Craving Quality Coffee That Tastes More Than Your Average Brew? 

Specialty coffee offers a unique experience, one that can pack your morning pick-me-up with a flavorful punch. If you’re looking for ways to enrich your routine and indulge in premium-tasting brews, then Kunjani is the place to do just that and more!

Empowered by women, we’re a small-batch specialty coffee shop and roaster in Naples, FL, who pride ourselves in focusing on sustainable efforts from sourcing to roasting. Visit our shop or order coffee beans online today!