Single Origin vs Blended: Which Is Right For You?
At Lucky Goat, our motto is "Make Great Coffee", and we approach both our single origin coffees and our house blends with that same singular goal in mind.
So when we consider the debate of single origin vs blended coffee there isn’t one right answer. For us, it’s simply a question of which one we are in the mood for right now.
In this post we'll dive into the basics of both types, what makes them different, and what makes them both great!
About Single Origin Coffee
To be a single origin coffee, all of the beans must come from one source or region. There are brands that will label their beans as single origin if they all come from the same country, but we feel that is not an accurate use of the phrase. All Lucky Goat single origin coffees are from one farm, co-op, or micro region.
See Also: What is Single Origin Coffee?
If you've never tried a single origin coffee before, you may be surprised to find that they’re packed with complex and interesting flavors and tasting notes. Since you are only drinking one type of bean, all of its uniquely specific characteristics shine through.
As you experience more single origins, an interesting transformation will occur. You’ll find that your palate will develop and you may even begin to assign flavors with specific regions and types of beans.
In fact, you’ll begin to experience flavors you may not have previously noticed and also recognize nuanced differences between beans. Some coffee connoisseurs can even distinguish unique characteristics from beans grown on different lots on the same farm!
Because coffee growers can only produce a limited amount of beans each year, they are limited in availability and once they sell out, they are gone. Will they have another harvest next year? Of course, but those may have a slightly different profile than the year before due to the yearly variance of mother nature.
About Blended Coffee
A coffee blend is a combination of beans from different regions and countries. Some blends are the result of whimsical experiments and others were developed using a scientific approach with a desired tasting profile in mind. Regardless of the method, a well crafted blend creates a symphony of flavors resulting in an amazing drinking experience.
See Also: What is Blended Coffee?
With blends there is less pressure to source beans from one specific farm, and instead coffee roasters can source beans from similar regions, and then carefully roast them for consistency from batch to batch.
This results in the two main advantages of blended coffees:
1) They are generally available year round, rather than seasonally.
2) They are consistent in flavor from batch to batch
One of our biggest joys as coffee roasters is that we get to create our own coffee blends for the exclusive enjoyment of our customers.
Keeping a blend consistent in flavor all year long is a much harder job than you might guess, which is why we are so thankful to have a supremely talented and experienced roastmaster.
Our expert tasting panel also regularly conducts quality control audits. Now that’s what you call a job “perk!”
Differences Between Blends and Single Origins
In the previous sections we've touched on a few of the differences between blends and single origin, we'll dig deeper into those here.
Availability: This is one of the largest factors that differ between the two. Single Origins are scarce with limited availability. On the other hand, most coffee producers strive to make their core blends available all year long.
Flavor: Single origins are known for their ability to showcase the unique flavors of a region, and blends are known for the wonderful harmonies that arise when the characteristics of one bean enhance one another.
Consistency: Blends are designed with the goal of producing consistent flavor, day-to-day, and cup-to-cup. On the other hand, single origins are an adventure in a cup.
Which Is Better? Single Origin or Blends?
Please don’t make us choose! The honest answer is, we love them both.
We love single origins for their ability to transport our taste buds all across the world and allow us to experience the flavors of a specific region, or even the nuanced differences from farm-to-farm.
And we love blends for their ability to develop flavors that no one type of bean could present on its own, as well as their day-to-day consistency.
At the end of the day, this choice comes down to each individual person's tastes and preferences.
We ask...why not have the best of both worlds?
Why not start your day with your favorite breakfast blend and then enjoy an exciting new single origin as an afternoon pick-me-up?
See Also: The Complete List of Types of Coffee
Final Thoughts
Still not sure which is best for you? Our baristas LOVE helping to guide you on your coffee journey so don't be afraid to ask for their advice when you're in our cafes.
Or, if you're a loyal online coffee customer, feel free to drop us a line and we'd be happy to help find a coffee that is perfect for you!
