Single Origin Coffee
The Ultimate Guide Single-Origin Coffee
If you’re not familiar with this type of coffee, our below guide is a great introduction to the world of single-origin coffee. Aiming to give you a greater understanding single-origin coffee, we’ll explore how this type of coffee differs from blended coffees, as well as provide some recommendations for the best single-origin coffees for your next online orders.
What Are Single-Origin Coffees?
The term “single-origin” refers to a coffee that is grown within a single geographic area, as opposed to a coffee blend that is made from a combination of various coffee beans from multiple regions. Single origin coffees can offer particularly unique characteristics, flavours and aromas that cannot be found in other origin varieties or coffee blends, which often makes them a much-loved and discussed coffee type among connoisseurs.
Single-origin coffees might come from a single farm or a collection of farms in a single country, but they can also be classified as coffee beans from a particular country, such as Brazil, Kenya or Colombia.
What Are Some Popular Single-Origin Regions?
A variety of factors go into creating the specific, unique flavour profile of a country’s coffee beans; climate, growing altitude, rainfall and soil type all play a part, as well as the history and development of coffee production in each country, leading to a great diversity of single-origin beans to be enjoyed.
Some popular single-origin growing regions include:
Colombia
Coffee was likely introduced to Colombia in 1723 by the Jesuits, before slowly spreading to various regions of the country as a commercial crop, becoming a significant crop by the end of the 19th century.
In 1958, recognising the value of brand marketing, Colombia created the Juan Valdez character, which featured on bags of coffee and in various advertising campaigns. This branding was undertaken by the Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros (FNC), an organisation founded in 1927 that is closely involved with the export and promotion of Colombian coffee.
Kenya
Kenya did not begin coffee production until relatively late, with the earliest documented imports of coffee dating to 1893, when French missionaries brought coffee trees from Réunion. Coffee was produced on large estates at first, under British colonial rule, with the crops sold in London, but with the passing of the Coffee Act in 1933, and the creation of the Kenyan Coffee Board, the sale of coffee moved back to Kenya.
Since Kenya gained independence in 1963, the country has been producing very high-quality coffees, while the research and development of coffee production is seen to be excellent, with many farmers being highly educated in coffee production. Like many other coffee-producing countries, Kenya uses a grading system for all of its exported coffees, which involves a combination of bean size and quality.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has grown coffee since the early 19th century, with the Spanish government soon promoting coffee production in a number of ways; when the country’s independence from Spain was declared in 1821, free coffee seeds were given out to encourage production, while in 1825 the government exempted coffee from certain taxes and in 1931 declared that if anyone grew coffee on fallow land for five years, they could claim ownership of it.
Exports began in earnest in 1832, to England, but first passed through Chile where the coffees were renamed as ‘Café Chileno de Valparaiso’. Direct export to England followed in 1843, which led to the establishment of the Anglo-Costa Rican Bank in 1863, providing finance to allow the industry to grow.
Peru
Coffee first arrived in Peru sometime between 1740 and 1760 and, while the climate was well suited to coffee production, the coffee grown during the first hundred years was consumed locally. The first exports, to Germany and England, did not begin until 1887.
Peruvian coffees are grown across several regions: Cajamarca in the north of the country; Junin, which produces around 20% of the country’s coffee; Cusco in the south of the country; San Martin, which in the past was the main area of coca production in Peru.
The Best Single-Origin Coffee Beans
With over 30 years’ experience producing speciality coffee beans, Coffee Direct offers a wide range of exclusive, high-quality single-origin coffees. Like all our coffees, our single-origin varieties are roasted to order and in small batches, ensuring you always receive the freshest beans to your door.
Monsoon Malabar
Monsoon Malabar is one of India’s most sought-after coffees and is an all-time customer favourite here at Coffee Direct. From the unique process used to give these legendary beans their signature taste profile to its intensely rich flavours and aromas, this Indian roast is an exceptional coffee.
“This is a beautiful coffee - full of rich and complex flavour with a nice but not overpowering kick. We will definitely be ordering this again - possibly our favourite coffee yet - anywhere!”
Matthew S. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kenya Blue Mountain
Our Kenya Blue Mountain is grown from seeds originally from Jamaica, which produce a coffee that has the natural sweetness of Blue Mountain Jamaica, but has also taken on the rich aromatic flavours and intensity that is typical of Kenyan coffee.
“I adore Kenya Blue Montain. The Blue Mountain is just what I wanted with no bitter notes at all, a wonderful flavour. I'll definitely be ordering more.”
Christina P. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Swiss Water Decaffeinated
Coffee Direct's Swiss Water Decaf Coffee is a medium roast Arabica from Brazil that is 99.9% caffeine-free and 100% chemical-free. This rich coffee is a full-bodied brew with low acidity and minimal bitterness, and most people who try it can’t tell that it’s decaffeinated.
“Great flavour coffee and the added benefit of both no chemicals and no caffeine. I’ve reordered this as I love it. Would recommend it.”
Vivian J. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blue Sumatra
Our Blue Sumatra is smooth and aromatic, with a well balanced spiciness that is typical of Sumatran coffees, while a full body and a little acidity provides a delightful hint of intensity, making this a pleasure to drink from a cafetiere, filter, or as an espresso.
“Strong, dark, deep, rich, tending to bitter and fills the kitchen with a gorgeous morning aroma. Great for a Monday morning kick start!”
Alan D. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FAQs
When it comes to single-origin coffees vs blends, what’s better?
Whether you prefer a single-origin coffee or a coffee blend will be a personal preference and choice. We recommend trying several varieties of each type of coffee from different countries and exploring different roast profiles (e.g. dark roast coffee, light roast coffee or medium roast coffee) and brewing methods, to get a better understanding of the types of coffee, bean qualities and tastes you enjoy. You can view our selection of over 100 different coffees.