Understanding Single Origin Coffee

The term “single origin coffee” has become somewhat of a catch phrase in the last few years. Many coffee drinkers have begun to refer to single origin beans with an almost mystical reverence. Single origin coffee simply means that the beans come from a single known geographical area.

While the quest for single origin coffee may seem new, it is a very old tradition. The earliest single origin coffees are Java from Indonesia, and Mocha from Yemen. The Java plantations date back to the 17th century, when the Dutch started the Arabica plantations. Mocha is even older and dates back to the 15th century.

Types of Single Origin Coffee

There are basically two types of single origin coffee

• Beans from one specific country.
• Beans from one specific estate or area – This can range from a small farm or a very specific area of a farm or plantation.

The Benefits of Single Origin Coffee

The taste of the coffee depends on a wide variety of factors; the climate, altitude, soil, and even the method of harvesting. These all have in impact on the flavour of the coffee. Single origin coffee allows coffee drinkers to find specific taste combinations that they enjoy. Sampling coffees from a wide variety of areas also provides a welcome variety to the coffee drinking experience.

Popular Single Origins Coffees

Jamaican Blue Mountain – Considered by many to be one of the best coffees in the world, Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is grown at an altitude of 915m in Blue Mountain district. The beans are usually in short supply and have a rich full-bodied taste.

Kona – Hawaii is the only state in the US capable of producing coffee and the beans from the Kona coast have a complex aroma and a medium body.

Ethiopia – Ethiopian beans have a variety of market names but all have the same basic characteristics. Most of the beans are wet processed and have a winey aftertaste. Many are grown at high altitudes and are consider among the world’s best coffees.

Columbia – Beans from Columbia are considered to set the standard for aroma, flavour and acidity and are one of the world’s most popular coffees.

Hacienda La Esmeralda – If you wish to taste the most exclusive single origin coffee in the world, then you go with Hacienda La Esmeralda. The bean grows only on the slopes of Panama’s Mount Baru in the shade of guava trees. The coffee harvest is very limited and is considered a delicacy and costs over £200 per half-kilo.