Single Origin Coffee in a Spotlight

Single origin coffee traces its roots to a single place, whether that means an entire country or a microlot on a farm. Even when the world is only consuming commercialized coffee, the country or port of origin is already being recognized. That is where we often hear the term “Mocha” or “Java”.

The exact region or location of the farm only became more pronounced with the advent of specialty coffee and the Third Wave movement decades later. Interest in the origin is tied to the nuances in bean taste, which are determined through cupping. Cupping began when the Hill brothers used this method for their farm at the end of the 19th century, the same period that the Cup of Excellence was established. This gave a platform for producers/farmers to showcase the quality of their coffee beans. The Third Wave movement gained popularity as people grew more conscious and curious about the good qualities and origins of each coffee bean. Knowing the origins gives us a peek at a unique story. Each origin also has specific characteristics in aroma, flavor, texture, acidity, and aftertaste.      

At present, the Third Wave coffee movement has become part of everyday culture. The First Wave is coffee treated as a commodity. Instant coffee belongs here; the Second Wave is coffee as a good beverage, usually espresso-based drinks, in coffee shops/cafes; and the Third Wave is coffee craft and transparency to origins. While the term specialty coffee emerged during the Second Wave, it is often referred to Third Wave coffee. As we discover more along the way, there are sources already discussing the Fourth and even the Fifth wave, driven by the community’s passion for continuous improvement. No matter what, Single origin coffee is here to stay.

You may order Single Origin Coffee Beans here.

References

Pendergrast, Mark. Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How it Transformed our World. Basic Books, 2010

Weissman, Michaele. God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee. John Wiley & Sons, 2008

Sedgewick, Augustine. Coffeeland: One Man's Dark Empire and the Making of our Favorite Drug. Penguin Press, 2020