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Single-origin Coffee

Coffee grows in more than 50 countries around the world's equatorial belt between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. As with wine, coffees have different tastes because of different climate conditions from different regions. Beans that are from a "single origin" have not been mixed with any other beans, even beans from the same country, but different plantations.

Coffee from the same country, but different regions of the country could have different flavours. For example:

• Ethiopia Sidamo - Sidamo is a growing region located in the south, bordering Kenya. Deep spice, wine, or chocolate-like taste and floral aroma.
• Ethiopia Harrar Longberry - The district of Harrar is located in the Northeast area of Ethiopia at about 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level. Characteristic wild, blueberry undertones, flowery aroma, medium acidity and heavy wine-like body.
• Ethiopia Yirgacheffe - Yirgacheffe is the most famed southern Ethiopian specialty coffee. Its clean and bright acidity, light body and rich mysterious finish linger teasingly on the palate.
• Ethiopia Limu - The district of Limu is located in South Western Ethiopia. This washed coffee delivers a vibrant, balanced cup with sharp acidity and a medium body to complement the rest of its excellent rich flavour and winy aftertaste.

Information courtesy http://www.tgcbc.com/ethiopia.htm

Coffee Blends

When two or more single origin coffees have been mixed together, then the coffee is a blended coffee. Blending coffee is an art, and is similar to the blending of wine. It allows the roaster to achieve a balance between different flavours, and smooth out the weaknesses or deficiencies of beans from particular areas.

Most espresso coffees are blends of beans from different growing regions. Some might blend in robusta to get higher caffeine content and or increase the amount of crema.