SINGLE ORIGIN COFFEE VS BLENDS
Single origin beans are coffee beans that are grown and harvested from a specific region or location across the world. Influences from the location where coffee beans are grown on the actual end flavor is dramatic. Variations in altitude, humidity, sunlight and soil greatly impact the flavor profile of the coffee.
Blends are a mixture of single source beans from multiple regions that are brought together for a specific flavor. Some roasters roast the blends together and some roasters blend the beans after the roasting process.
Origin INFLUENCES ON THE END FLAVOR OF COFFEE
How are the coffee berries are picked? (hand or machine) How is the flesh of the berry is removed? This is called “striping”. What fermentation process is used. Fermentation is needed to to remove a slimy layer of mucilage still present on the bean in raw form before roasting. Wholesale Coffee is generally shipped green to roasters.
There are many steps to prepare roasted coffee beans for the end user before it is transformed into that wonderful cup of artisan coffee. Let’s recap…
- Picking
- Stripping
- Fermentation
- Drying
- Roasting
- and then grinding and beverage preparation.
Now if you are currently drinking commodity coffee from a large or corporate retail source chances are there are bulk purchasing and commodity trading steps involved as well. If you are drinking coffee crystals or something that is sold in a metal can at the grocery store, chances are you drinking a blend of all the lower quality coffees that offered the best pricing and not the best flavor. (sorry it’s true)
ARABICA VS. ROBUSTA
What do you drink? Most people are not sure what coffee bean they are being served. The two basic bean categories are Arabica and Robusta.
Each offer their own distinct characteristics and have many variations of beans that fall under each category. At a high level the Arabica has 44 chromosomes and the Robusta has 32. The Arabica flavor profile leans towards “acidic” where the Robusta offers a higher caffeine content and a bold flavor with much less acid.
The next time you are in the market for an amazing experience with your whole roasted Espresso beans, try locating some premium fresh Robusta Espresso beans.