A Guide to Blends & Single Origin Coffees

Blends

The vast majority of coffee sold on the high street, including in chains such as Starbucks, Costa, Caffe Nero and independents, will be a coffee blend.

"Why blends?"

A major reason that blends are preferred, is due to the flavour options available. A blend is likely to be more consistent all year round, no matter the type of coffee being made, whether that be an espresso, or combined with milk to create cappuccinos, lattes and more.

Blends are crafted to offer a wide range of flavours and tend to be a signature of a particular brand or establishment.

"How do you want your coffee to taste?"

A blend is much more likely to suit a number of palates and, no matter the time of year, should remain consistent in composition and profile.

This allows operators, like you, to offer a lead product that will not only appeal to the majority of your customers but one that is available year-round at an attractive price point.

Originally some of the "Italian inspired" blends had a tendency to contain a high proportion of cheap beans. These beans were then roasted at higher temperatures to accentuate bitter notes and mask their bland flavours.

Thankfully though, that is one philosophy we don't advocate. We don't like bad coffee and we certainly don't think that anybody should be subjected to a sub-standard cup.

We believe that a blend should be anything but average. It should be unique, special and taste absolutely phenomenal!

Take our Super Crema blend, for example.

Our best-selling coffee is comprised of four different beans, all of which have distinctly separate origin characteristics. When these are then mixed together they combine to form a unique and appealing coffee, one that cannot be replicated by a solitary type of bean. The result is a smooth, balanced and full-bodied cup with noticeable hints of fruit and a subtle chocolate note.

No wonder it's so popular!

Single Origin Coffee

Single origin coffees will stimulate the senses and send people on a whirlwind tour of the globe.

But what separates these offerings from a 'regular' blend?

As we have seen, blends will be made up of two or more types of coffee, often sourced from different countries.

A single origin coffee is essentially coffee that has been grown within a single geographic location, in some cases this is a single farm, or a specific collection of beans from a single country.

It is common to name this single origin coffee after the place in which it was grown, giving you a clearer picture of where your coffee has come from.

Commercial opportunities

Over the past decade or so the coffee industry has truly exploded and market analysts believe that the sector will continue to grow and grow.

One of the biggest emerging trends at the moment is that of the 'third wave' approach. Here, specialist coffee shops, run by artisan baristas, provide a unique customer experience that is based on quality and an exceptional attention to detail that encompasses everything from the beans' origin to the latest brewing methods.

With low overheads and high-profit margins, by embracing specialist single origin coffees into your existing business, you could really maximise and improve your incoming revenue streams and appeal to a wide variety of customers. However it is worth bearing in mind that an additional grinder may be required, and staff will need to be educated on the product in question to truly maximise its commercial potential.

By having varieties on rotation, you will be able to offer your customers a premium, stand-alone product that is only available for a limited period of time.

Take time to inform your customers about the coffee's origin and its precise flavour profiles and why it is worth and why they should move away from the norm. It is a high-quality option and it should be treated as such.

Domestic uses

Our selection of both brewing equipment and specialist coffees are ideal for picking up for use in the home. Creating exceptional tasting coffee in the comfort of your own kitchen has, in recent years, become more and more popular whilst becoming a remarkably easy process.

So why not experience a world of different tastes every morning?

A balance is best

We believe that a well-rounded menu will contain finely tailored blends for day-to-day use as well as a collection of distinctive single origin for filter coffee and speciality lattes etc.

With the right balance, any coffee shop will be able to cater for any and all palettes; from the casual drinker right through to the discerning connoisseur.

Imagine a pub for one moment. The guest ale represents these more expensive coffees; it is a product that can be sold for a premium, but one that will be changed on a semi-regular basis.

It is an option that is there not to compete, but to complement and act as an alternative for those who like to explore and experience a little adventure from time to time.

As with all premium products, you should expect to spend a little bit extra in sourcing a single origin.

On average, an espresso made with our popular Super Crema blend will cost around 8p, leaving operators with a very healthy profit margin after taking into account labour, sundries and other outlays.

A speciality coffee might cost, say, an extra 7p per shot, but this can then be sold at a much higher premium.

Check out our "coffee calculator" to work out how much you stand to make based upon our competitive coffee prices!

Summary