Single-origin: What Does It Mean?

Single-Origin – What Does it Mean?

“Single-origin”: The coffee comes from one source. One country? One region? One specific farm? Yes.

In general, single-origin refers to a coffee that can be traced to a single source. Sometimes, that means a single region of a country, but as often as we can, Spiritus strives to know what farmer/collective it comes from, too. It’s very important that we know where our coffee comes from; we only want ethically sourced coffee that brings success to those growing and harvesting it.

So, what’s the big deal?

Let’s take a look at wine as an example: grapes grown in wineries around the world all have different flavor profiles and characteristics. Even the same varietal – Chardonnay, for example – is going to taste different in Napa than it does in France. The environment, the elevation, and the efforts of each producer all bring different subtleties that we are excited to explore.

We hope to be able to educate you on all of these different aspects. It’s imperative that coffee tastes great, but it’s always nice to know exactly why it tastes that way. Some people really want in-depth knowledge about their coffee, their meat, their wine. Others just want a great sip or taste. It doesn’t really matter to us – if you want to get more info, we’re happy to provide it. If you just want to enjoy, we can help you find a roast that fits your style.

Does Single-Origin really matter?

Single-origin is not just a coffee buzzword. Although it was brought to the forefront of things when local coffee shops started focusing on brewing coffee with pour-overs and other alternative brews, the concept is much more than a fad. Knowing specifics about the source – climate, land, people, processing, etc. – helps to understand what kind of coffee to expect. How we roast it, and how you will enjoy it.

Because we value relationships with farmers and collectives, we strive to get seasonal, fresh beans. It does mean that we may only have some roasts for a short time, but it also means that we’ll be roasting new varietals regularly. Don’t fret – coffees that come from one region often have similar characteristics – it’s likely if you enjoy one, you’ll likely appreciate another from the same place.

What’s the process here at Spiritus Coffee?

Spiritus Coffee has several avenues to procure beans. Sometimes, we work with Royal Coffee to facilitate getting beans from the farmer to our roasting house. They work with “over 30 countries of origin, an extensive network of producing partners, and have decades of experience in the roasting community.”
When we can, we like to engage with direct-trade with the farmer/collective ourselves. It allows us to see the process of grow, all the way to roast, every step of the way. It means that we can get and give first-hand information from the farmer/farm themselves. All of our partners take great pride in the quality of their coffee, and we take great pride in roasting it so you can enjoy a delicious cup.

Sip in the moment.