Have you ever been in a café, glanced at the available coffee, and wondered why they claim it is of single-source origin? I mean, what does that mean? Why is it important? Should you even care?
You’re not the only one who feels that way, yet the label is still significant. Find out what the Perfect Daily Grind has to say about coffee labels and café menus from all over the globe. Let’s discuss why it is significant, view the factors that have brought it to the forefront, and provide a few pointers so you can confidentially capitalize on your new insight.
“A concise phrase with a major meaning: single origin.” The connotation is usually boiled down to a cup of joe purchased from a particular cultivator, crop, or area within a single nation. The coffee comes from one single source such as a farm, mill, or co-op. You can take your search for coffee even further by looking for labels that provide you with details such as the name of the estate, the precise tract or field it came from, or if it’s a special harvest of certain cultivars from a particular plantation.
Yet this isn’t all that single origin means. As SCAE’s Andra Vlaicu says:
The most salient point regarding single origin coffee is its capability to be traced back to its origin; you know the exact place where it was grown, not just a mixture of beans. Typically, the higher quality coffees are known for their connection to a specific farm in a particular area. The taste of the coffee is distinctive in its location and bears unique qualities of the place it was grown.
Therefore, that’s why third-wave coffee is partial to single origins – an effort to comprehend more about the attributes of the coffee and how those traits are impacted by activities conducted at the source.
What It Is
Coffee that is identified with a single place of origin, often one specific farm or plantation, is referred to as single-origin coffee.
In addition, because the coffee is cultivated in a predetermined small area, it is possible to maintain and repeat the individual features of the beans. Despite the fact, coffee lovers remain perplexed as to why single-origin coffee is so desirable.
Why People Love It
There are several reasons to love single-origin coffee. The following are some explanations why today it is so in demand in the coffee-drinking group.
Flavor
Single-origin coffees have developed a loyal following because of their unique flavor and genuineness. Some independent coffee shops tend to make single-origin coffees, so as to bring out a distinctive flavor that the coffee brand is known for.
Many people who enjoy drinking coffee like single-origin varieties due to their specific taste or flavor characteristics that are unique to that region. The flavor of something can be greatly affected by the quality of soil, height of the area, the amount of shade, and the climate.
Traceability
The capability to discover the source of your coffee is something significant to a lot of coffee enthusiasts. Being knowledgeable not only in regards to the characteristics of the coffee, but also its source, will give a great deal of insight into the high quality of the coffee.
The renown of single-origin coffee is largely attributed to the fact that its source can be completely traced back to the location it was cultivated. This strengthens the standing of a coffee farm or brand, since it can be traced and therefore held responsible.
Quality
The biggest advantage of coffee from a single source is its high-quality. As it is grown and roasted in limited quantities, those involved in the growth and roast are able to monitor it more closely, weeding out any bad beans and ensuring each lot is as delicious as can be.
Single Origin vs. Blends
The two primary forms of coffee production and preparation are single-origin and blended coffee.
Though they are both widespread, there are many dissimilarities between these two types of coffee. The main differences between them are cost, supply, standard, and style of taste.
Price
The cost of using coffee from a single origin source is generally higher than that of ordinary blends because of the more intricate, closely watched cultivation methods involved. Farmers are meticulous when it comes to the quality of single-source beans due to the fact that single-origin brands have to uphold a good standing.
Farmers often take beans from multiple places in order to come up with a single mix. The flavor of mixed coffees tends to not be as distinct as individual coffees from one source.
By using a mix of beans from multiple sources, small facts such as the environment in which they were produced, scanning them for any imperfections, and emphasizing taste are often forgotten when creating a brew of combined coffee.
Availability
The timing of crop harvesting can create issues with the supply of some coffee varieties, but it is even more intricate to come by single-origin coffees. Many single-origin coffees are seasonal and may only be bought during particular periods of the year. Therefore, these specific types of coffee are produced in fewer quantities than larger coffee mixes and roasts.
The supply of mixtures will remain fairly stable regardless of the company and the particular combination. Harvesting the beans from various places makes them more accessible and simple to acquire for farmers. A larger volume is created since beans are coming from multiple sources.
Quality
What mainly distinguishes single-origin coffee from others is its superior quality. The meticulous nurturing of the beans makes the taste of single-origin coffee more exceptional than common mixtures.
It is also crucial to consider the standard of single-origin coffees as this will affect the flavor and roasting of the beverage. People who favor drinking a cup of black drip coffee tend to favor single-origin coffees.
Blends can often be of inferior quality, owing to their composition of various types of coffee beans. Many different types of coffee beans are mixed to form a blend, making it more likely for some inferior or misshapen beans to slip into the mixture.
It is uncommon for this to happen, and hopefully it will not have a negative impact on the taste of the beans. People who like to put milk or flavorings in their coffee will very quickly become fond of coffee mixes.
Flavor
The most salient distinction between single-origin coffee and standard mixtures is likely the flavor. Single-origin roasts are easy to distinguish by taste since single-serve coffees are all the same in their growing, composition, and packaging. People who enjoy traditional black coffee tend to opt for single-origin brews because of the distinct flavors and nuances present in them.
Rather than pinpointing a particular flavor or mix of flavors, coffee mixes prioritize an amalgamation of tastes. Typically, coffee combinations present a delightful harmony of taste, body, and sharpness. Lots of individuals who like coffee tend to have their own special version with milk and additional flavorings.
Single-Origin and Specialty Coffee
Different types of excellent coffee are found internationally, however the most renowned is speciality coffee. In general, many different flavors of coffee that are unique to a certain area are derived from a single-origin coffee, as the tastes are so rare and special.
The SCAA states that in order to be regarded as special-grade, a coffee must obtain a score of 80 or above on the 100-point scale of coffee evaluation. Experts will evaluate coffee based on factors such as the size of its beans, variations, abnormalities, environmental circumstances, and so on.
In order for coffee beans to be qualified as being speciality coffee, the beans must contain no more than 3 primary defects, and must not exceed 5% in size above or below the demanded measurement. Moreover, they need to display a specific attribute in one or more of the following types: taste, odor, strength, and acidity. In addition to that, the coffee must be free of blemishes and its moisture content must remain between 9-12%.
Farmers pay close attention to each individual bean, allowing for careful oversight of the quality of the coffee. This is usually what makes single-origin coffee a sought-after specialty item.
The Increasing Popularity of Single Origin
So how did single origins enter “mainstream” vocabulary? Jeremy Torz, founder and managing director at Union Hand-Roasted Coffee, emphasizes that the growing attention for pour-overs and AeroPresses in specialty coffee shops is responsible for the current popularity of the drinks. He states that other coffee varieties can be added to the espresso offering without compromising it, and these types of coffee have now been incorporated into the espresso realm. Due to the rapid rate of development within the coffee business and baristas’ consistent drive to experiment and make changes, it is no wonder that conventions are being set aside in order to reinvent the coffee experience for present times.
It seems that single origins are especially trendy because they can be traced, making them more desirable. Andrew Hetzel from CafeMakers Coffee Consultants states that knowledgeable customers who he has come across are eager for advice: advice to interpret and explain the intricate flavors and sensations produced by a quality cup of coffee. Most buyers are not knowledgeable and lack the motivation to become informed, though they can be subtly directed towards better-tasting coffees. The helpful data that a roaster or retailer supplies can be quite detailed and include specifics such as origins (including farm, land, people, climate, cultivar, and processing).
An enthusiasm for disclosure and cutting-edge techniques in the coffee sector makes it understandable that single origins have become well-liked.
The Increasing Popularity of Single Origin
What has been the result of the growing preference for single origin coffees on production?
It appears we have the power to influence agricultural practices due to our substantial level of demand. Certain agriculturalists (termed specialty farmers) are producing and advancing superior quality produce in answer to our request. Some people work to enact changes with their choice of types of grapes, the amount of control they have over the development phase, when they are picked and the methods used to pick them, and the manner in which they are broken down and processed.
Direct Trade Increases Coffee Quality
These experiments would never have occurred without direct trade. We have noticed an even more intensive connection between coffee makers and growers, which is essential for obtaining higher grade coffee. Producers need help staying informed about the changing trends in the market, so they rely on roasters. Specialty roasters, who search for unique single origin coffee beans, can now easily find producers and learn from them.
Trips to the source of the coffee beans, which are becoming more and more frequent, offer a great deal of information for coffee roasters and buyers of green beans. It’s increasingly uncommon to find a coffee roaster that does not have an intimate, informed understanding of the effect of agriculture and processing on the beans. Growers, buyers, and roasters get together on the farm to sample large quantities of coffee, sometimes as much as 100 types in one day, to evaluate and compare the results between processing methods and the cupping records. As this data and the coffee are exchanged, the person buying the product will observe an increased level of refinement in the available options.
The customers who purchase the product are also included in the connection between producers and roasters. How? By acknowledging the superior quality of the coffee. According to Jorge Raul Rivera, Vice President of J. Raul Rivera S.A de C.V and representative of Finca Santa Rosa, El Salvador:
The customer has the opportunity to enjoy and recognize the labor that goes into a year of farming, which motivates the farmer to strive for excellence and give the consumer an outstanding coffee experience. If the farmer produces great quality and the customer continues to ask for it, then the roaster is obligated to give the farmer a reasonable cost for their goods.
When you choose to buy an exotic coffee, be mindful that you are taking part in the search for premium goods and moral corporate practices. Feels pretty good, doesn’t it?
Direct Trade Increases Coffee Quality
We have figured out that coffee with an origin from one source typically has better taste and that seeking out coffee from these sources through Direct Trade has led to a growth in the availability and quality of unique coffees – but how can we be certain that the coffee is of high quality? In the end, one source of origin does not guarantee quality.
Well, that’s where industry evaluation systems come into play. Systems of esteem that are accepted all over the world (such as the Cup of Excellence or Coffee Quality Institute Q) judge the quality of coffee; particularly single origins, single estates, and small batches. These systems are not only beneficial to customers shopping for coffee; they also reward them for continually striving to obtain beans of better quality. Profitability can be achieved through manufacturing excellent coffee if producers and roasters appropriately market the systems utilized.