Something you might have noticed in our offerings is the term “Single Origin.” You may also see there is a slightly higher price point associated with these offerings. This could prompt the question, “why are single origins more expensive than blends?” In this blog, we’ll define what a single origin is, why it matters, and why it’s more expensive than our blends.
What is a single origin?
A single origin coffee is one that grows within a single location geographically. These beans may come from a single farm or multiple farms from a single location. Though it might seem like a very small distinction to make, the many factors such as soil acidity, fertilizer, mineral levels, and the time of year the farmers bring in the harvest all play a role in how the coffee tastes in your mug.
A common debate amongst coffee connoisseurs is how specific you should get when dealing with single origins. Does single origin mean “coming from one farm?” Is it still a single origin if it comes from many different farms in the same region? Shouldn’t you call those Single Origin Blends? These questions offer a more precise definition: A single origin comes from a single coffee farm that uses one process.
But, why do single origins matter?
Single origins, as opposed to blends, allow the roasters to get specific tasting notes, resulting in rich flavors that reflect the origin that the beans come from. This is why coffee connoisseurs love single origins so much! It allows them to taste the unique differences in coffees that come from different regions, and even more specifically, different farms.
Why are single origins more expensive than blends?
As you may have guessed, here is another area that has many different factors that play into it. Single origins are often hand picked as opposed to by a machine. Hand picking allows the farmer to have more quality control by sorting through the cherries(3) that are ripe and healthy. Another factor that affects cost is single origins can be traced back to the source where the farm’s business practices can be examined to see whether or not the farmer is paying their workers fairly and treating them ethically. Lastly, hand picking takes longer and is often practiced in areas that are harder to reach.
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