When it comes to coffee beans, most newbies will find it quite hard to pick the proper type for them. Among various options, the coffee blend vs single origin battle belongs to one of the hardest couples of drinks to distinguish.
Which one gives you more depth of the taste? And which delivers more health perks?
If you are in such trouble and need a helpful review on this topic, visiting our blog might put an end to your interest. Let’s dive into our thoughtful comparison in detail now to find out the truth.
What Is Single Origin?
Few suppose that the “single-origin” term is only a fancy buzzword applied to attract customers. Yet, it is actually an appellation to help users know what they enjoy.
Single-origin drink is a product born of the same farm (and also roasting or processing station) in one place. Here are some instances for your better understanding of this beverage name.
You might see brand names like “Kenya Kiganjo AA” or “Ethiopia Idido” in a certain place. The first element to find out is the nation. This belongs to the easiest thing to realize which item is an origin roast.
As for “Ethiopia Idido”, the word “Ethiopia” refers to the nation where the coffee beans were processed and produced in the Idido co-operative. In the other case, the label “AA” is used to represent the kind of beans. The AA grades are the densest and largest beans.
These factors of any exclusive-origin roast’s name are usually shown on its bag. In case you would like to reach the whole story of its root, you can drop by the roaster’s site. Everything you need about the product will be uncovered there!
What Is The Coffee Blend?
A blend is an output of a mixture of different single origins. There is a wide range of methods roasters might make blends. Some have a combination of coffee beans from a certain region or country, while the rest use beans from various nations.
Most roasters carry out many different types of bean mixture to find out the unique tastes of the beverage. This is how a well-balanced and delicious cup of the drink was born.
Some cafes often create seasonal products or signature items thanks to coffee blends and their recipes. Many people love blends for uniqueness and consistency in savor.
Classification of coffee mixtures in cafes is quite simple. Most blends are labeled on their packaging with the respective name of blends.
Coffee Blend vs Single Origin Comparison In Great Details
Flavor Profile
The most striking dissimilarity between this type of drink is their taste.
A blend is a combination of different beans. So they have a balanced flavor with various pounds of coffee that are suitably complimentary. While the other comes to the market with its unaltered, purest taste and most original profile. Thus it has more robust, bolder, and exotic flavors.
In addition, single origins are often brighter, featuring citrus or floral notes. In comparison, its rivals tend to be a subtle caramel, chocolate, and even nutty note.
Yet, because a single-origin reflects its “wilder” original taste, it often varies on a seasonal basis. This means that each season might change slightly in flavor. Meanwhile, blends are characterized by their homogenous taste over the other. Hence, seasonal factors won’t affect the savor of this kind of coffee.
Availability
The main components of these roasts lead to geographical limitations resulting in the difference in the grade of availability. Based on this fact, blends are superior to their rivals.
As noted earlier, single origins are seasonal changes and stem from a specific co-operative or farm, so it is pretty hard to come to the market with abundant quantities. Yet, it seems to be available year-round with coffee blends because they are an output of various beans.
Consistency
The consistency of single origins is a bit stronger and more pronounced than the other. It would be hard to enjoy another specific kind for someone entranced at the distinctive savor of the coffee. The mixture in the flavor of multiple beans will be more mellow in the grade of consistency.
Purity
In terms of purity, single origins are voted for their high quality, which tells a special story about their origin. Most roasters will pick the beans to brew a crisp and clean cuppa that appears flawed with regards to milk-based drinks.
Meanwhile, blends consist of multi-taste from various origins, so their purity is likely to be biased downwards compared to their opponent.
Traceability
Tracing the birthplace of coffee blends is often ambiguous and next to impossible. Producers will show the nation where the beans come from but not the information about specific co-ops or farms.
The other might come from a farm, producer, country, and even a large set that they were grown on. Hence, these are valuable and powerful information because they help consumers to have a deeper comprehension of the beverage they are enjoying.
This aspect is one of the largest sections of the remarkable movement in the beverage market. This trend aims to validate the bean’s roots and its farms to the users.
Cost
There is a deep truth that the rarer the thing is, the more expensive it often is. Single-origin coffee belongs to this “the thing” group. Furthermore, the roasters always try to build a reputation as exclusive representatives.
These factors explain why single origins are more pricey than blends. Thus, you will find it hard to encounter a specific single origin in any cafe.
Which Is The Winner Between Coffee Blend And Single Origin?
Both blends and single origins offer greatly unique taste profiles to users. There is actually no cut-and-dried answer about which type is suitable for you, as it all boils down to your preference.
Our honest piece of advice is that you should take your time to discover multiple coffees and pick which savor matches your sweetness. It would be better if you have chances to alternate and experiment till you explore the one that suits your tastes.
Still, we suppose something below will give you a hand to make a final decision easier.
- If you are keen on comparing the special and unique taste of different coffees from all parts of the world, you should consider single origins as your first choice.
- If you need a friendly beverage that does not give too big a surprise and you can refine depending on your flavor, don’t hesitate to select a blend.
- If you prefer learning more about the original coffee palate, such as cane sugar, jasmine, or strawberry, you can’t go wrong with single origins.
FAQs About Coffee Blend vs Single Origin
1. Why Do Coffee Roasters Offer Origin Coffee?
Roasters provide single origins to meet customers’ needs. As smart consumers, we’re always on the quest for a special drink that strikes a combination of consistency and pureness.
Single origins’ flavors, acidity, and aroma are usually more striking than blends. Some cafes have exclusive selling rights to specific coffee beans, promoting them to become proprietary brands. This might contribute to gross sales for that shop.
2. What Is The Appropriate Water-To-Pound Rate To Brew Coffee Origins And Blends?
When you would like to explore how to brew coffee blend or single origin properly, we highly recommend that using a pour-over maker is a wise method. And you have to know a proper ratio between water and this bean powder to have a harmonious result.
Generally, a blend needs to take a closer water-to-powder proportion than its counterpart. We suggest using around 350g of water per 28-30 (grams) blend. On the other hand,22-24 (grams) of beans to 350g water is a proper ratio for single-origin beans.
If you have a sweet tooth, it would be best to add some cream or milk for a more mouthful cuppa. The pick depends on your hobbies.
3. Why Do Coffee Roasters Make Blends?
To combat the inconsistent and adventurous feature of single origins, especially seasonal changes, roasters will offer blends. From most roasters’ view, blends are friendly to suit most consumers’ needs. That is a key reason why most roasters offer blends in their cafe.
The Bottom Line
We bet that you have already satisfied your interest earlier about the battle of coffee blend vs single origin. Also, we believe you have concluded which type is the best for your needs.
The blend will be a crowd-pleaser with a pleasant tone, while the other boasts a more robust flavor with more depth. The choice is up to your taste and tolerance.
Thank you for your company, and stay tuned for our next blog! See you soon!