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Difference Between Blends and Single Origins: Teams vs. Lone Heroes - Renowned Single-Origin Coffee Beans

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style) FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Single Origin and Espresso Differences Blended beans, also known as composite beans, are created by mixing various single-origin coffee beans to fully showcase the unique strengths of each variety while also masking some flavor imperfections. Composite blended beans consist of different origins

Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style)

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Single Origin and Espresso Differences

Blend beans, also known as comprehensive beans, are created by mixing various single-origin coffee beans to fully showcase the strengths of each individual bean while concealing some flavor imperfections. Comprehensive blend beans are made from coffee beans mixed from different origins to create a more balanced flavor profile. For example, if a coffee bean lacks a smooth, rich body, another bean with sufficient richness can be added to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, creating a richer new taste experience through complementary or enhanced flavors. Sometimes the beans are mixed first and then roasted, which is called raw blending; other times, the coffee beans are mixed after roasting, which is called post-roast blending.

Single-origin beans refer to coffee beans from a single variety. With the third wave of specialty coffee, more and more coffee shops are offering single-origin coffee. According to SCAE, the emergence of single-origin coffee is most importantly about traceability, allowing coffee enthusiasts to know the unique characteristics of the estate where this high-quality coffee comes from, and that the flavor represents the origin, region, and bean variety. It is precisely because of the third wave of coffee, which emphasizes the pursuit of coffee knowledge such as brewing methods and origin flavors, that single-origin coffee has become more popular. Single-origin beans are generally suitable for pour-over, cold drip, and cold brew.

Kona Coffee

Grown in the Kona region of Hawaii, Kona coffee is a rare variety that can only be cultivated on volcanic slopes. It features a fragrant, mellow taste with a slight wine-like aroma and an extremely special flavor profile. Premium Kona coffee has moderate acidity and a smooth, rich mouthfeel, along with a unique aromatic flavor. Due to decreasing production, its price now rivals that of Blue Mountain coffee.

Kilimanjaro Coffee

Produced on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Kilimanjaro coffee is a non-acidic coffee variety with a rich flavor and is famous for its multi-layered taste experience. For discerning coffee connoisseurs who want to experience exotic flavors and stimulate their taste buds, Kilimanjaro coffee is the best choice. Its aroma and taste are enough to let first-time coffee drinkers experience an endless symphony of flavors.

Kenya Coffee

Aromatic and rich, with balanced and delicious acidity, Kenya coffee boasts excellent fruit flavors and a perfect, rich mouthfeel. It is one of the varieties generally favored by industry professionals.

Costa Rica Coffee

With excellent flavor, smoothness, strong acidity, and high quality, Costa Rica coffee has an enticing aroma.

Guatemala Coffee

Grown in the Antigua region, which is blessed with fertile volcanic soil, Guatemala coffee is one of the quite famous varieties in the coffee world. The fertile volcanic rock soil has created a world-renowned smooth, aromatic flavor with a hint of tropical fruit taste. Rich in flavor, perfectly balanced, and with a touch of smokiness that further emphasizes its ancient and mysterious character, many coffee experts consider Guatemala coffee to be the best variety among all Central and South American coffees.

We won't list all the famous single-origin coffee beans one by one here.

Knowledge Point

Coffee roasting is the process that triggers Maillard reactions and caramelization reactions within green beans, producing more wonderful flavors.

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research hub that loves to share coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation, only hoping to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Moreover, we hold three low-discount coffee activities every month, because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest price - this has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past six years!