Growing up in the early 90’s, my parents and other coffee drinkers I knew were interested in coffee only because of what it did for them: it woke them up. However, over the years, the geographic origin and blending of the coffee that the world drinks and uses has picked up in popularity. We’re going to look at the differences between single-origin coffee and coffee blends and how being one of the two can impact the way we drink and experience coffee.

Single-Origin Coffee

Single-origin coffee can come from all over the world—including places like Ethiopia, Colombia, Bali, and even China! At Vantage Coffee Roasters and Higher Ground Coffee Co., a cup of origin coffee simply means that the coffee is sourced from a single region and farm. These would include coffees that we offer like the Colombia Huila Santa Maria or Brazil Legender Especial. What is unique about single-origin coffee is that no two taste the same, and this is due to the terroir, or environment, that each coffee is grown in. So what you get in Ethiopia is not going to taste the same as what you get in Honduras, and then even in each of these areas, there’s going to be nuance from farm to farm due to the soil, sunlight, elevation, rain, and average temperature. When a single-origin coffee is moved to a cup, it can be used for a variety of brews such as an espresso, a regular drip coffee, pour-over, aeropress, or cold brew.

Coffee Blend

A coffee blend, on the other hand, is a mixture of various origins. Coffee blends allow the roaster to create unique flavors that otherwise would not be present in a single-origin coffee. For instance, our Three Little Birds is a blend of Brazilian, Ethiopian, and Colombian. These three blended together allows us to create a unique flavor profile that emphasizes a berry-like sweetness with a slightly nutty profile and a light body. The espresso we serve in store is a blend and so is our cold brew! It’s through this meticulous blending that we are able to serve a unique drink that remains balanced in flavor, profile, and texture. It’s important to note that merely mixing coffees together does not necessarily mean it’ll be a good tasting blend. Each coffee blend that we serve at Higher Ground Coffee Co. and Vantage Coffee Roasters is meticulously made by using differing percentages of each coffee blend that we use and sell in stores. We are able to test the quality of these coffees through ‘cupping’ to ensure that they’re consistent and balanced. The incredible thing about coffee blends is that they can also be used for a variety of brews, as well. As mentioned earlier, our espresso and cold brew are coffee blends, but also for our drip coffees. These can also be used for a pour-over, the aeropress, and on and on!

Single-origin coffee and coffee blends are important and vital to both the consumer and the roaster. These practices lead to unique representations of coffees from all over the world and allow us to taste the fruit of these countries. We all get to experience the single-origin coffees together and the roaster gets to create unique coffee blends that match customer preferences and even their own palates. It may be a trite saying, but it really does take all kinds to make the world go round, and we get the privilege of seeing, smelling, and tasting small parts of various countries through their coffees every day! Whether it’s a single-origin coffee or a coffee blend, we’ve got what you’re looking for.

This blog was written by Jeremiah Whiteman