Why Do We Blend Coffee?

What is the difference between single origin and blends?

Single-origin coffee is exactly that, it comes from one singular farm or producer, these coffees highlight the unique characteristics of a region, for example, Ethiopian beans are often fruity and floral, while Colombian beans are nutty and chocolatey.

Coffee blends will take 2 or 3 different beans to create a balanced cup profile - Here we do small test batches, experimenting with different proportions to achieve the ideal balance. Using a tasting method called cupping and if the coffee is destined for an espresso machine, then we'll dial it in on the machine and see what it is tasting like too.

A blend might be 60% Brazilian (for body and sweetness) and 40% Ethiopian (for fruity acidity). Ratios can vary significantly depending on the desired profile.

Generally speaking single origin coffee will be light - medium roasts as you don't want too loose the innate flavours in the roasting process, blends often will be roasted medium - dark especially when roasted for espresso. Though we love a single origin espresso here too!

So why do we blend coffee?

Cup profile: Blending allows us to combine beans with complementary characteristics which ensures no single flavour dominates and creates a more rounded taste profile.

Consistency: Single-origin coffees can vary significantly between harvests due to weather, soil conditions, or farming practices. Blending helps maintain a consistent flavour profile all year-round, even if certain beans aren’t available or vary in taste.

Approachable coffee: Some consumers prefer approachable flavours and a balanced cup, not bitter, nor too acidic, not too fruity or floral which is often the case with single origin coffee. Blends cater to these preferences by toning down extremes and appealing to a broader audience.

Affordable coffee: Higher scoring beans from expensive regions can be mixed with lower grade specialty beans to create a blend that’s both flavourful and affordable. For example, a small amount of rare, high-grade specialty coffee can elevate the overall quality of a blend without making it prohibitively expensive.

Brewing Methods: Blends are often created for specific brewing methods, like espresso. Espresso blends focus on rich body and smooth crema by combining beans with chocolate, caramel, and nutty notes. resulting in a brew that’s punchy enough to stand out when combined with milk in lattes or cappuccinos.

 

 

How do we Blend Coffee?

We have to think about why we are creating a blend. We define the desired flavour, aroma, and body of the blend, often based on customer preferences or intended use. 

• Espresso Blends: Aim for bold, smooth flavours with low acidity to pair well with milk.
• Filter Coffee Blends: Focus on clean, balance and clarity of flavours.

There are two main approaches to blending coffee:

Pre-Roast Blending

• Beans are mixed together before roasting.
• The benefits of this method is that the beans can perform more consistently on  espresso machine as they have roasted similiarly. 
• Suitable for blends with beans that have similar density and size.

Post-Roast Blending

• Beans are roasted separately, each to its ideal roast level, and then blended.
• This is the preferred method for specialty coffee because it maximizes the potential of each coffee and allows for greater control over the final blend.

 

Check out some of out Blends: 

 

 

Happy coffee brewing and tasting!