Understanding Coffee: Single Origin, Espresso Blend, and Specialty Coffee - What's the Difference?

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FrontStreet Coffee — The Differences Between Single-Origin Coffee, Espresso Blend, and Specialty Coffee

Single-Origin Coffee

Refers to coffee beans from a single country or region. Think of it as a solo performance in coffee.

If a package of coffee is labeled with the name of a coffee-producing country (the European mainland does not produce coffee beans; if the label shows European city names such as Italy or Vienna, it is not single-origin coffee), it generally represents single-origin coffee. Examples include Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, Sumatra Lake Tawar, Guatemala Antigua, etc. These specific coffees from particular countries, regions, or estates are called "single-origin coffee."

Because each country or different region has its own climate, soil, and natural environment, the coffee grown there develops unique characteristics. Tasting single-origin coffee allows one to understand the distinctive features and flavors of coffee from a specific country or region.

Espresso Coffee

Espresso coffee is made using an espresso machine, utilizing atmospheric pressure to force hot water through freshly ground coffee powder to extract the essence of coffee. Its greatest characteristic is the quite short preparation time, resulting in rich coffee aroma and lower caffeine content compared to other types of coffee. Additionally, espresso coffee is based on espresso, so it has developed considerable diversity. By adding different proportions of milk, you can create a series of products such as cappuccino, latte, and other rich-tasting coffees.

In today's global coffee market, espresso coffee can be said to be the biggest mainstream. Due to Italy's exquisite traditional craftsmanship and romantic national character, these factors have allowed the espresso coffee trend to sweep the globe. Currently, people who drink espresso coffee account for more than half of the existing coffee market.

Blend Coffee

Refers to coffee beans mixed and blended from several single-origin coffees. Think of it as a concerto in coffee.

The blending method of combination coffee can be very simple (such as the traditional "Mamba": Mandheling plus Brazil) or it can be a complex art. Through proper blending, single-origin coffees with their own characteristics can together create a more harmonious and wonderful symphony. Usually, the coffee beans used for espresso coffee (espresso, latte, cappuccino) are blend coffee.

Specialty Coffee

Only coffee with a cupping score of 80 points or above can be called specialty coffee. Now SCAA and SCAE have merged to become SCA, and the definition of specialty coffee has been consistently merged. That is: through comprehensive cupping (blind tasting), coffee scoring 80 points or above can be defined as specialty coffee beans. Blind tasting scores below 80 points are classified as commercial beans.