Collection: Single Origin

Single-origin coffee is sourced from a single location, such
as a country, region, city, washing station, or a specific producer.

Most coffee companies use the term “Single Origin Coffee” to showcase that coffee is from a particular location; think Yirgacheffe (a central coffee-growing region in Ethiopia.)

The more specific a coffee roaster can get about the location of their coffee, the more highly desired it becomes among speciality coffee lovers. Specialty coffee consumers desire traceability (the ability to verify the accurate location of the coffee).

Single-origin coffee is sourced from a single location (country, region, city), while blends can be made of a combination of origins or different producers from the same origin.

Coffee roasters create blends for several reasons:

1. Blends allow coffee roasters to create something unique; think of their own signature recipe that no one else on the market has.

2. Coffee Blends allow coffee roasters to offer a consistent product throughout the year (like a House Blend). Blends allow roasters to rotate coffees in and out throughout the year to help with freshness and consistency, while Single-origin coffees are typically offered seasonally.

3. Finally, coffee blends help coffee roasters manage costs during a constantly changing c market. Coffee blends can help offset costs by using a slightly lower costs product with a higher-end, higher-scoring coffee.

Micro lots are subsections of coffee farms that may have
quality distinctions from the rest of the farm. These rarer lots of coffee are sought after by importers and roasters due to their characteristics and process differentiation from the main lots. Micro lots are priced higher because they are identified as unique from the rest of the farm. Still, they are harvested and processed separately from the main lot, substantially increasing prices.

When comparing a Single Origin to a Micro lot, a micro lot is identified down to a single section within a single producer’s farm. You cannot get more specific or traceable when it comes to micro-lot coffees.

Single Origin coffees refer to a specific location such as; a
country, region, city, or processing facility, while a Single Producer Coffee refers to coffee from an individual producer or farm.

Single-origin coffee is expensive due to its traceability (a desired attribute by coffee roasters and consumers.) A highly traceable coffee (like down to an individual producer) is usually more consistent, reliable, and often higher scoring than coffees that are not.

Prices of coffees usually go higher as they get more specific or traceable (like micro-lots or from individual producers.)

Single Origin coffee is not necessarily better than a coffee blend, but often it represents a higher quality and unique product. Still, consumers and roasters seek Single Origin Coffees due to their traceability, consistency, and often more unique flavor profiles than blended coffee.

What makes Single Origin or Single Sourced coffee better than blends (products mixing coffee from multiple locations) is the product's
consistency and the coffee roaster's ability to partner with the producer
directly to improve upon or iterate on their product.