Single verses Blends

This may not be news to many of you but Single origin coffees are on the rise. They are running strong in Melbourne and have been for awhile but the trend is forging ahead here in Brisbane. It makes me very happy to hear this. Although I do love my blends it is nice to experience the true nature of a bean in all it's glory.

I began this journey working for Jasper coffee and really missed it on my return to Bris. Now that I work at Bellissimo I have this desire satisfied again.

The major difference is that a blend has been created. A single is just that, one single region and it can be nothing else. (dependent on the roast of course)

When you create a blend you begin with either a single origin or an ideal flavour and then you add to it create you desired experience. This can be anything from three to eight different regional beans. Talk about multicultural!! These beans would never come together in any other way. Ethiopian and Brazil with a small percentage of PNG. Wow. They are not exactly neighbors.

You get the idea.

A single is unique. It is only influenced but the soil and climate of the region it is grown. How high it is. How much rain it received. How it is harvested and dried. All of this effects the final product. And that being said, a harvest one year may be completely different from the next.

We are after all talking about an organic product.

One mistake many people make is to expect the same flavour experience from a single as to that of a blend. You will rarely find a single origin that gives you a similar experience.

My advice to you is that you get out there and try different single origin coffees from different roasters. You might find the one that really tweaks your fancy. I can still remember the Cuban Altura Lavada I had at Jasper quite a while ago now, but the memory still lingers on. Yes, it was that good. Better even than the Wallenford Estate Jamaican Blue. I know right. In my opinion only and only for my taste. You might disagree.

But you will never know if you don't explore.

"Life is too short for bad coffee."