Single origin coffee
Single origin coffee beans originate from a single location and generally indicate higher quality coffee. Generally, green bean suppliers can tell you the country, region, and even elevation that the beans were grown. Single origin coffees are a great choice for coffee enthusiasts who want to try a specific flavor profile or are familiar with the country of origin they prefer. If you don’t know, your best bet is to try many single origin beans and pay attention to flavor profiles. You’d be surprised how beans growing in different areas of the world yield different flavors!
Roast levels and caffeine
I’ve found that most coffee drinkers I know prefer darker roasts. I’ve found this is because they think there is more caffeine. This just isn’t true, and a lighter roast will have just about the same amount as a dark roast. However, using more grounds per cup will give you a higher caffeine amount, and generally a more robust flavor. In general, light roast yields a sweeter, lighter cup, medium roasts offer a stronger flavor, and a dark roast will give you a slight bitter aftertaste. It’s really all a matter of personal preference!
Flavor profiles
My coffees are primarily from Central and South America or Africa. Central and South American coffees have flavor profiles that are mild and smooth. Words to describe my Guatemala or Columbian coffees include smooth, mellow, clean, smoky, and caramel like. My Brazilian could be described as smooth, nutty, dark chocolate like, and buttery.
African coffees are generally bright and fragrant. Words used to describe my Ethiopian or Tanzanian coffee could be floral, dry, bright, fruity, and even chocolatey. Roast level can also affect these flavors with darker roasts being more “robust”. While I love a HOT cup of coffee, flavor profiles are best experienced when the cup has cooled a bit.
How I can help
Most of us get our first introduction to coffee through a large scale roasting operation, whether brewed at home, or picked up in store. There is so much more out there to explore, which is why I decided to roast my own and bring this to my local community. Feel free to contact me to talk about any of my coffees, or even to tell me about your favorite!
My preferred single origin has always been the medium roast Guatemala from a local coffee shop, but since roasting my own, I’ve grown very fond of Nicaragua and Tanzanian Peaberry. I have always preferred my coffees at a medium roast, served black with just a touch of sugar. Ask me how you can find your new favorite cup of high quality, fresh coffee!
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