Single-Origin Coffee – Can You Trace Your Beans’ Origin?


coffee bean in galaxy

Introduction

When I started to to take an interest in coffee I would enjoy buying bags of coffee from different countries to see what the difference in taste was. I remember deciding that I really preferred coffee from Guatemala and that coffee from Brazil was too bland! I now know that I was being a bit naive to expect that all coffee from a certain country would have certain characteristics (although there is some truth in that, for example I still believe that Ethiopian coffee is wilder in taste than say Brazilian coffee). 

The term single-origin coffee is widely used by roasters (including ourselves at Square Bean Coffee) to market their coffee. So it is for this reason that I decided to write a short blog about

  • what is single-origin coffee
  • why single-origin coffee matters
  • examples of single-origin coffees

What is single-origin coffee

Coffee is commonly said to be single-origin if it comes from:

  1. a single country
  2. a certain growing region or area
  3. a single estate, farm or finca(spanish for farm)
  4. a specific cooperative or village
  5. a micro-lot within a farm

Knowing which country your coffee comes from is nice because coffee has such an interesting history and culture. But coffee growing regions vary so much that, at the very least, your bag of coffee should tell you in which region your coffee was grown. 

For example, Yirgacheffe coffee is from the famous coffee growing Yirgacheffe region in Ethiopia. But you can do a lot better, origin-wise, by buying coffee from a cooperative or village. Our Ethiopia Konga coffee comes from the village Konga in Yirgacheffe.

Ethiopia Konga coffee bag

If you really want to know where your coffee comes from, buy single-estate or farm coffee. At Square Bean Coffee we usually source our coffee from single estates or farms, preferably from smaller farms to help the small producers. 

An important exception to this is cooperatives. There are several areas such as in Ethiopia or Peru where there a lots of really small producers producing great coffee who do not have the facilities for coffee processing. They take their coffee to a nearby cooperative for processing and sale.

Micro-lot coffees are the finest definition of single-origin. Micro-lot coffee is a special batch of coffee from a particular farm. For example, our Colombia Gesha coffee comes from the La Cabaña finca in Colombia.

Why single-origin coffee matters

One of the main reasons why the origin of the coffee is important is because of terroir.  Terroir in the context of coffee refers to the unique combination of environmental factors that influence the characteristics of the coffee beans grown in a specific location. This concept is borrowed from the wine industry and includes:

  • Climate (temperature, rainfall, humidity)
  • Soil composition
  • Altitude
  • Topography
  • Sunlight exposure
  • Local farming practices

Together, these factors affect the flavor profile, aroma, acidity, body, and other sensory attributes of the coffee. For example, coffee grown at high altitudes in volcanic soil may have bright acidity and complex floral notes, while beans from a lower, warmer region might be richer and more chocolatey.

Another important reason for choosing a single-origin coffee is for transparency in sourcing. That is why we believe that the definition of single-origin should refer to as small an area as possible. 

For example, a common coffee sold in the UK is from the Minas Gerais region in Brazil. Minas Gerais is the fourth largest region in Brazil with an area larger than France!

Examples of single-origin coffees

Here are a few examples from our own offerings at Square Bean Coffee:

Conclusion

Single-origin coffee isn't just a marketing term—it is a window into the journey of your coffee from farm to cup. By understanding and appreciating where your coffee comes from, you can experience the unique flavors that different regions, farms, and micro-lots have to offer. 

 

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