Single-Origin vs. Blends: What’s the Difference?

When browsing through specialty coffee, you’ve likely come across two common terms: single-origin and blends. Both have their loyal fans, and both can offer a delicious cup, but they represent very different approaches to coffee sourcing, flavor, and experience. Whether you’re just starting your journey into specialty coffee or looking to deepen your understanding, this post will walk you through the essentials.

What is Single-Origin Coffee?

Single-origin coffee comes from one specific place. That could mean a country, a region within a country, a single cooperative, or even a single farm. The point is that it’s traceable. You know where it’s from, and often, you’ll know who produced it and how.

Single-origins are often prized for their distinctive flavor profiles. A washed Ethiopian coffee might have bright citrus and floral notes. A natural from Brazil might be full of chocolate and nuts. Each origin and each producer brings a unique set of flavors, depending on the climate, elevation, variety, and processing method.

Because of this, single-origins are great for people who want to explore terroir, the idea that where a coffee is grown profoundly affects how it tastes. They offer clarity, uniqueness, and a deeper connection to the people and places behind the beans.

And What About Blends?

Blends are just what they sound like: a mix of coffees from different origins. They’re crafted by roasters who combine multiple coffees to create a specific, consistent flavor profile. That might be a smooth espresso blend with chocolate and caramel notes, or a more complex filter blend designed to balance fruitiness and body.

The goal of a blend isn’t to showcase the quirks of a single origin, but to offer a harmonious cup that works well across brewing methods and tastes great every time you buy it.

Blends are often used in cafés because they offer reliability and can be tailored to specific styles, especially espresso, where consistency matters a lot. They’re also a way for roasters to balance costs and seasonality while still producing an excellent result.

So, Which One Is Better?

That really depends on what you’re after.

If you love the idea of exploring different flavor profiles, want to learn more about coffee farming, or are looking for something unique, single-origin coffee is your go-to. Each bag tells a story and offers a particular sensory experience.

On the other hand, if you want a reliable, balanced cup that performs well no matter how you brew it, a blend might be the better choice. They’re crafted to taste great and offer a lot of versatility.

At the higher end of specialty coffee, both single-origins and blends can be exceptional. They are simply different approaches to creating quality.

Why We Work with Both

In our own lineup, you’ll find both single-origin offerings and carefully designed blends. All of our coffees come from traceable farms and cooperatives we’ve come to know and admire. 

Each one is roasted with care, and all are sourced with a focus on sustainability, ethics, and transparency.

There’s no need to choose sides. Think of blends and single-origins as two different expressions of the same craft. If you’re just beginning your coffee journey, try both. A good blend will show you balance and comfort. A great single-origin will open your eyes to the possibilities of flavor in coffee.

And if you’re already deep into specialty coffee? Keep tasting, keep exploring. There’s always something new in the cup.