“Single origin coffee” is a fundamental concept to understand the culture that surrounds this fascinating beverage. In short, single origin coffee refers to coffee that comes from a specific producer, a single farm, or a delimited region of a country.
If you like wine, you may be familiar with this approach. Wine enthusiasts place great importance on the origin of wine, from the place where the grapes were grown to the “terroir”, the environmental factors that can have an effect on a crop. Coffee enthusiasts share this attention to detail, although it hasn’t always been this way.
The “Third Wave”
Until not so long ago, coffees from different countries were blended together and the exact origin of the components was almost a trade secret. To this day, this is one of the characteristics of the Italian espresso tradition.
Everything changed with the advent of what some call the “third wave” of coffee culture. Above all, this concept reflects changes in the attitudes of American coffee enthusiasts, but it’s also a useful guide to understand some trends in the global coffee market. Let’s take a look:
- First wave: The commercialization of coffee, particularly instant coffee.
- Second wave: Emergence of chains of coffee shops with Starbucks at the forefront.
- Third wave: A higher appreciation of coffee and all its subtleties, from its body and flavor notes to (you guessed it) its origins.
The term “third wave” was coined in 2002 by Trish Rothgeb, a Bay Area native who was living in Oslo at the time. The term may be a newborn as far as words go, but the attitude it reflects is here to stay.
A Rewarding Tasting Experience
With this deeper appreciation of coffee came a special emphasis on provenance and traceability. Single origin coffees have a well-defined character and offer a rewarding tasting experience that may change the way you look at coffee.
A single origin coffee offers notes of flavor that you won’t find in blends that are more generic in taste. Flashes of chocolate, hints of citrus, and scents of fruits are just some of the gustatory stimuli you can expect when you pour a cup of single origin coffee.
At EcoDelight, we offer high-quality single origin coffee in San Jose, California. With the accumulated experience of five generations of coffee producers behind us, we are one of the best Coffee Roasters in San Jose.
Our discerning range of single origin coffees covers all the sensory aspects of the coffee-tasting experience (all are available ground or as whole beans).
- Brazil: From Minas Gerais. Good body, low acidity, long and sweet aftertaste.
- Costa Rica: From Tarrazu. With full body, tingles with acidity.
- Mexico: From Chiapas. Delicate in body, pleasantly dry.
- El Salvador: From Apaneca. Creamy body with hints of caramel and tropical fruits.
- Guatemala: From Huehuetenango. Full in body, with a characteristic smoky flavor.
- Sumatra: From Mandheling. Good body, with long and sweet aftertaste.
- Nicaragua: From Jinotega-Matagalpa. Medium-to-light body with a delicate taste.
- Colombia: From Medellin. Heady aroma, full body, and mellow, clean flavor.
- Ethiopia: From Sidamo. Good body, long and sweet aftertaste with aromas of caramel, walnuts, and honey.
Contact us today by telephone (707-344-3316), email (guillermo@ecodelightcoffee.com), or through our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter) to place a custom order, become a distributor, or learn more about our passion for all things coffee.
