Single Origin Coffee
- Monsoon Malabar CoffeeMonsoon Malabar, a wonderful variety from our Asian coffee range, is picked in the Malabar region of India, one of the wettest regions of southern India, undergoes an especially unique process to bring out the beans' fullest flavours. Straight after being harvested the Malabar beans are transported to open warehouses along the Malabar Coast, where they will be exposed to the harsh, moist winds of the area's monsoons for around three to four months. While they are stored in these open ...
From £14.99★★★★★1200 Review(s) - Dark Decaffeinated Colombian CoffeeIf you're looking for a quality decaf coffee that doesn't sacrifice on strength and intense flavours, then our Dark Decaffeinated Colombian is for you. Ideal for deep, aromatic espressos, these beans offer the rich and luxurious flavour of chocolate and produce wonderfully full-bodied coffees that won't be keeping you up all night. Our Dark Decaffeinated Colombian is roasted on order, so it will arrive to you as fresh as possible, bursting with intoxicating aromas and packed full of flavour, ...
From £14.99★★★★★413 Review(s) - Kenya Blue Mountain CoffeeOur 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. Kenya's acidic soils provide excellent conditions for the growth of quality coffee, especially the renowned arabica bean, which is known to take on fantastic cocoa notes in Kenyan coffees. Full bodied, with a good acidity, hints of nut and citrus and ...
From £17.99★★★★★801 Review(s) - Swiss Water Decaffeinated CoffeeDecaffeinated coffee is ideal for those who want to enjoy their favourite blends at any time of day, without the effects of caffeine, however the process of removing caffeine from a bean can also remove much of the bean's flavour. That's why the Swiss Water Process is a favourite method of decaffeinating coffee: it doesn't remove the flavour and strength of coffee beans in the act of removing the caffeine, and doesn't use any chemicals. In the method, coffee beans are first soaked in hot ...
From £19.99★★★★★525 Review(s) - Old Brown Java CoffeeIdeal for espresso, our strong Old Brown Java beans are aged as green beans for at least two years before being roasted, giving the coffee a heavier body and a powerful flavour, but very little acidity. The process of ageing beans is popular among many Javanese coffee producers and can last for as long as three years, during which green beans may be 'monsooned' by being exposed to the warm, moist air of the rainy seasons. As the green beans age they often begin to turn to a light brown ...
From £14.99★★★★★359 Review(s) - Dark Colombian CoffeeOur Dark Colombian is a slightly stronger coffee than our Colombian Medium Roast, which makes it more versatile as it is suitable for cafetiere use, filter coffees and intense espressos. Again using Medellin Excelso, from Colombia's Cordillera Central in the Andes, this excellent coffee really does display some of the finer qualities of the renowned Colombian coffee bean: a rich aroma, luxurious depth and sweet flavours of fruit and chocolate. These Colombian beans benefit from being grown ...
From £14.99★★★★★189 Review(s) - Blue Sumatra CoffeeThis strong Indonesian coffee comes from Sumatra, the second largest of the Indonesian islands, and is considered among the finest examples from the region. Indonesia itself is the fourth largest coffee producer in the world, and the longitude and latitude of the country make for particularly well suited micro-climates in producing a diverse, flavoursome variety of beans. In fact, depending on the region, Indonesian coffees are known to be imbued with flavours of cocoa, smoke, cedar wood, ...
From £15.99★★★★★295 Review(s) - Kenya Peaberry CoffeeKenya Peaberry is grown in the Nyeri region, situated in the Central Highlands of Kenya, where acidic soils provide the perfect conditions for coffee that is known for intense flavours and well-rounded aromas. The peaberry variety of bean, also known as 'caracoli', is created when a coffee cherry produces only one bean, as opposed to the usual two. This single, pea-shaped bean is separated from the regular 'flat berry' beans before roasting, which ensures a high-quality even roast, and, as ...
From £15.99★★★★★200 Review(s) - Ethiopian Yirgacheffe CoffeeGrown in the Sidamo Province of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is among the best of the washed coffees: coffees that undergo a process before roasting, whereby the cherry of the bean is removed before the bean itself is dried. Washed coffees benefit greatly from this process, as once the cherries are immersed in water, unripe ones will float and be removed from the process, while ripe ones will sink and be used. This ensures the highest quality beans in each batch. Legend has it that the ...
From £15.99★★★★★229 Review(s) - Colombian Medium Roast CoffeeMedellin Excelso is an excellent example of the exquisite, full-bodied coffee that Colombia is known for, and testament to the county's reputation as one of the finest exporters of coffee in the world. Made from beans that have been cultivated in the rich, volcanic soil of Central Cordillera, Medellin Excelso produces a heavy body when roasted, resulting in a delicious nutty flavour with just the right amount of acidity. This variety also offers a pleasing aroma, typical of many Colombian ...
From £14.99★★★★★102 Review(s) - Dark Maragogype CoffeeThe coffee industry in Guatemala began to develop in the 1850s, with small plantations flourishing. Cultivation of coffee and the country's coffee industry was given a sizeable boost during the Liberal Revolution of 1871, when goals of modernisation and trade improvements caused the bean to become an especially important crop. To this day coffee remains one of Guatemala's main exports, along with sugar, textiles and bananas. The particular bean used in our medium and mellow Dark Maragogype ...
From £18.99★★★★★125 Review(s) - Papua New Guinea CoffeeCoffee in Papua New Guinea is mostly cultivated in the country's five highlands provinces; Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Simbu, Morobe and East Sepik. As a relatively small producer of coffee, Papua New Guinea generally sources its harvested beans from small land holdings, or 'coffee gardens', owned by farmers, which are located largely in isolated areas that do not require synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. Our Papua New Guinea coffee has a distinctive chocolate and nut flavour, ...
From £14.99★★★★★87 Review(s) - Blue Mountain Jamaica CoffeeOur certified Blue Mountain Jamaica is a real treat for coffee lovers and demonstrates just why this variety is one of the most sought-after in the world. Grown on Jamaica's longest mountain range, the lush Blue Mountains, at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 feet on average, these high-quality arabica beans benefit greatly from a cool and misty climate, plenty of rainfall, rich soil and, of course, excellent drainage. The resulting bean reveals mild, sophisticated flavours and a pleasing lack of ...
From £48.99★★★★★165 Review(s) - Brazil Ipanema CoffeeExclusively prepared bourbon variety cherry beans. This unique coffee, grown in the Sul de Minas Gerais region of Brazil, to the Northwest of Rio, is slightly citric, has noticeable acidity and evident floral overtones. Its soft, mellow and sweet taste stands alone, producing distinct fragrances and aromas. The aftertaste is long, pleasant and almondy. Brazil Ipanema is suitable for all brewing methods, but excels in espresso-based drinks in particular. Want to read more about Brazil Ipanema ...
From £15.99★★★★★76 Review(s) - Kenya AA CoffeeThis mild Kenyan coffee gets its AA+ rating based on the large sizes of the specially selected beans used: Kenyan coffee is graded by the screen size of the bean, with beans that are too large to pass through a sieve perforation measuring 18/64 of an inch designated as AA grade. Our excellent Kenyan coffee, grown in the fertile Nyeri region of Kenya, offers a strong, slightly tangy flavour that's great for filter coffees and for preparing in a cafetiere, and embodies all the characteristics ...
From £15.99★★★★★65 Review(s) - Peru CoffeeThis high grown coffee has a wonderful fruity and floral taste, with a sharp acidity and a subtle chocolate finish. Coffee is one of the largest agricultural exports of Peru, with approximately 200,000 small farms spanning the country from north to south, producing high quality arabica beans. Our Peru coffee goes wonderfully in your favourite filter coffees, and will also make a delightfully sharp espresso. Be sure to check out our wider range of South American coffee, including wonderful ...
From £14.99★★★★★63 Review(s) - Medium Roast Decaffeinated Colombian CoffeeWhen it comes to selecting a decaffeinated coffee, our Medium Roast Decaffeinated Colombian could be the best option to choose if you enjoy the fruity flavours and chocolate notes of our Dark Decaffeinated Colombian Coffee, but prefer a more mellow cup. These fine Arabica beans from Colombia offer a medium roast alternative that delivers on flavour and aroma without the caffeine. It is particularly suited for cafetière and filter use.
From £15.99★★★★★68 Review(s) - Costa Rica CoffeeSourced from selected Costa Rican estates, where beans are grown more than 2,000 metres above sea level for the benefits of a high altitude, this mild coffee is the perfect choice for a smooth start to the day. The high altitudes allow the beans to mature slower than other varieties, resulting in a fuller flavour, and an increased acidity that is not too overbearing, meaning that you can enjoy this coffee straight from the cafetiere at breakfast. The maturing process creates a strictly hard ...
From £14.99★★★★★70 Review(s) - Sidamo CoffeeEthiopian coffee beans grown in the Harar, Sidamo, Yirgacheffe, or Limu regions each reveal distinct, yet uniformly excellent flavours and aromas. Our smooth Ethiopian Sidamo coffee is made from the finest Arabica beans, grown exclusively in the Sidamo Province. One of the most famous origin tales of the coffee suggests that a local innam at a Sidamo monastery threw these red coffee berries upon a fire, at which point their roasting gave off such a wonderful smell that they were raked off ...
From £15.99★★★★★41 Review(s) - Mocha CoffeeA mellow, fruity coffee with hints of spice and wine, Mocha is grown in the Southwest regions of Ethiopia where, according to legend, the first coffee plant was discovered by a 9th century goat herder. These beans are smaller and rounder than most other varieties, and are of the arabica variety, which is renowned for high quality and full flavours. Mocha coffee beans create sweet, chocolatey coffees with fruity undertones, a light acidity and a slight earthiness. The Mocha coffee bean came ...
From £14.99★★★★★41 Review(s)
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.