Single-origin coffee

Single-origin coffee is coffee grown within a single known geographic origin, meaning either a single farm, multiple farms from the same country, or just a blend of the coffees grown from that country.[1][2] It could also mean an entire country which produces a wide variety of beans. such as Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam.[3] Coffee is usually named after the farm it is from, type of species the coffee plant is, how the coffee is processed, and often includes the name of the country it belongs to. For example, a Natural Ethiopia Yirgacheffe is named such because it is naturally processed (meaning the coffee cherries, when picked, are left to dry out in the sun, before processing; many third world countries do this), the country it is from is Ethiopia, and Yirgacheffe refers to the species of coffee that it is. Single-origins are viewed by some as a way to get a more specific taste from one type of coffee, rather than taste multiple coffees in a blended batch.[4] Some independent coffee shops have found that using single-origin coffee beans instead of a blend of beans gives them a way to add value over large chains, as the implications of single-origin suggests better quality, which is often true.[5] While the name "single-origin" suggests that these coffees will be easy to trace back to their origins, this is simply not true. As stated before, single-origin is a rather vague term, as the coffee could have come from as many as 10 farms from the same country, or one farm from 5 different lots, or one farm from 1 lot. The only people who would likely know the full origin story of the coffee being brought around the world to be consumed, would likely only be the farmers, and possibly the distributing partners, if they bothered to ask. Most of the time, two single-origins from the same country, will taste entirely different; this is because one single-origin farm(s) likely uses one or more species of coffee that the other single-origin farm(s) simply does not use.

Something to note is with the sudden increase in specialty coffee shops, consumers are starting to be interested in the transparency that single-origin coffee offers.[6] With the increase of interest in single-origin on the consumer side, it is now becoming the epicenter for the coffee industry. Coffee is a cultural trend around the world; nearly every country has some sort of culture surrounding the beverage, and this can be seen as one of the most universally relevant products that exists in the global market.

There are no real rules or governing body enforcing the labeling of coffee; however, there are governmental bodies in some countries that regulate the coffee market, like in Brazil for example.[7] A single origin coffee could be:

  • Coffee entirely from one farm.
  • Coffee from multiple farms in the same general area. (very common)
  • Coffee from multiple farms in the same country.

Types of single-origin

Estate coffees are a specific type of single-origin coffee. They are generally grown on one massive farm, which might range in size from a few acres to large plantations occupying many square miles, or a collection of farms which all process their coffee at the same mill.[8] Estate farms usually host 'tourist' style origin trips, which show the travelers from first world countries how the coffee is grown, processed, and shipped off to other places around the world, through the perspectives of the farmers. Many countries in South and Central America have estate coffee farms, countries such as Columbia, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico, all have a large amount of estate farms. Starbucks owns a large majority of coffee farms in the Philippines, combining many small farms together to form one giant cooperative farm.

Micro-lot or small-lot coffees are another type of specific single-origin coffee from a single field on a farm, a small range of altitude, and specific day of harvest.[9] Many micro-lots are used for growing specialty coffee, which is some of the highest quality coffee offered on the market, which can range in prices. Some of the best coffees in the world often come from small micro-lots, and yield very low amounts off incredible tasting coffee, in return for a high cost to the consumer. Nearly every coffee farm in the world is to be considered a micro-lot or small lot coffee farm, as the people growing it often have very little access to buy more land than they already have.

It is crucial to note that coffee cannot be grown in any first world country, with the exception of the United States and coffee being grown in Hawaii. This is because coffee can only grow between the tropic lines on the Earth, and most all countries that are within the tropic lines, are third world countries. It is also crucial to understand that single-origin coffee costs more to the consumers, but offers a higher living wage to those in these third world countries, to help support their lives and their families, at little extra cost to ourselves in first world countries.

Brands of single-origin

Some notable varietals of single-origin coffee include:[10]

  • Bourbon
  • Typica
  • Geisha
  • Caturra
  • Catimor
  • Charrieriana
  • Canephora
  • Mauritania
  • Liberica
  • French Mission
  • N39
  • Mayaguez
  • Arusha
  • Jackson
  • K20
  • Kenya Selected
  • SL35
  • Acaiá
  • Mundo Novo
  • Kallmas
  • Laurina
  • Creole
  • Mocha
  • Mokka
  • Java
  • Sumatra
  • Pointu
  • Kent

The list goes on extensively, as there are thousands upon thousands of both naturally occurring single-origin varietals, and man made hybrids.[11]

See also

References
  1. Marion, Darrin (2017-02-15). "What is Single Origin Coffee". Darrin's Coffee Company. Darrin's Coffee Company. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  2. "Coffee Language: Non-European Names". Coffee Review. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  3. Mowery, Lauren. "Here's Why Single Origin Coffee Is More Expensive But Worth Your Dollars". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
  4. "The Ultimate Guide to Single Origin Coffee: Buying, Brewing, and More". Roasty Coffee. 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  5. "Frequently Asked Questions". Moustache Coffee Club. 2004-12-01. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  6. Grind, Perfect Daily (2015-09-14). "Everything You Need to Know About Single Origin Coffees". Perfect Daily Grind. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
  7. "Single Origin Coffee – Everything You Need to Know". Ispirare | Coffee & Espresso Reviews. 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
  8. "Coffee Language: Farm, Mill, and Estate Names". Coffee Review. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  9. Butler, Nickolas (2007-09-01). "The Trouble With Micro-Lots?". Roast Magazine. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  10. "11 best single-origin coffees". The Independent. 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  11. CoMission, The Coffee (2015-03-12). "Infographic: Periodic Table of Coffee Varieties or Cultivars". Medium. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
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