What is Single Origin Pour Over Coffee (Find Out Here)
What is a single origin pour-over coffee? Coffee is one of the largest produced crops globally, making people buy a mixture of coffee beans from different regions. But what many people do not know is that there is one coffee that comes from a single place of origin.
Single-origin pour-over coffee is a brew that uses coffee beans from a single farm, region, or country. Meanwhile, pour-over is a brewing method that filters to separate the coffee grounds from the extract.
The result is single-origin pour-over coffee that has a distinct flavor and aroma.
What is Single Origin Pour Over Coffee?
Coffee is the second most popular beverage globally after tea. It has a steadily increasing consumption rate, which caused it to become one of the most traded products globally.
Additionally, there is an increasing demand for high-quality coffee among consumers.
People began to appreciate coffee beans with labels of the origin, thus giving life to single-origin coffee. That said, you may already have an idea of what single-origin pour-over coffee is.
This term/concept divides into two aspects of coffee making:
- single-origin coffee beans
- pour-over coffee brewing
What Are Single Origin Coffee Beans?
Single-origin or single estate coffee beans come from a single crop, producer, region, or country. On the other hand, coffee beans acquired from multiple farms, regions, or countries are known as blends.
Unlike blend coffee beans that are available throughout the year, single-origin coffee has limited availability. For this reason, manufacturers only feature them when they are at their peak flavor—such results in a genuinely unique and great-tasting brew.
Since coffee beans are traceable to a single location, they have distinct and excellent quality flavor. The flavors differ from one region to another, depending on the climate of where they are grown. The producer’s processing conditions also affect the taste of single-origin coffee beans.
What Does Pour-Over Coffee Mean?
The pour-over method involves a filter that you put at the top of your coffee cup. The filter will then hold the coffee grounds. Then, you will have to pour water on the coffee grounds and let it filter in the mug.
Pour over is also famous for drip coffee or filter coffee. This method has been popular in Europe since the 1900s. It accentuates the intricate flavors of coffee in comparison to other brewing methods.
Additionally, filter coffee is clear and consistent. The reason is that the water can extract the coffee aromas and oils in its own time and pressure. As the water pours slowly into the mug, the filter catches most of the oil, resulting in a clean cup of coffee.
Moreover, pour-over is the popular choice for brewing single-origin coffees as it lets the aromas and flavors shine. So, what is single-origin pour-over coffee? To simply put it, this term refers to single estate coffee beans brewed using the filter or pour-over method.
On its own, single-origin coffee already has a lot of flavors and aromas. Brewing it using the pour-over method makes it even better as it enhances the taste and fragrance of the coffee grounds.
Is Single Origin Better Than Blends?
One of the most asked questions among coffee enthusiasts is which is better between single-origin pour-over coffee and blends. Nowadays, people have more flexibility in terms of selecting the variation of their coffee:
- roast levels
- acidity
- coffee blends
- flavors
In addition, coffee enthusiasts became more meticulous in their coffee, prompting them to explore the variety that suits their preference best.
Moreover, two of the choices initially compared are single estate and blends. It leads us to the question, is single-origin pour-over coffee better than blends? Here are some points to consider:
1. Flavor Profile
Single-origin coffee beans contain the most original and unaltered flavor profile. On the other hand, blended coffee beans combine different beans, giving the final product different elements.
Moreover, single-origin coffee has a more exotic and bold taste and is more robust than blend.
2. Consistency
What makes single-origin coffee better than blends in terms of consistency is that the taste may differ slightly depending on the season. The flavors of single-origin coffee become more pronounced as seasons change. Meanwhile, coffee blends are mellow because they consist of multiple coffee beans from different regions or countries.
3. Purity
Single-origin pour-over coffee is famous for its purity and fantastic quality. As mentioned, single-origin coffees brew a clean cup, mainly if you use the filter method. However, this coffee may not be fit for milk-based beverages.
On the other hand, blended coffee beans have various blends from different origins, so the taste is less robust than single estate coffees.
4. Availability
Because single-origin coffee beans have geographical limitations, the supply is minimal. Such is especially true when the coffee beans come from a particular farm that cannot produce large quantities.
Contrastingly, blends are available all year round because they are a combination of different bean types.
So, in terms of availability, it is safe to say that blends are better than single-origin coffee beans.
Moreover, single-origin coffee is better than blends as it has a better flavor profile. It also has unique characteristics and exotic taste since the beans came from only one place.
5. Traceability
Tracing the place of origin of blends is impossible and often ambiguous. The reason is that manufacturers use coffee beans from different farms and places of origin without a particular farm or producer information.
On the other hand, you can track where single-origin coffee beans originated. It can lead to a deeper appreciation for small farmers who plant and harvest coffee beans.
Such is a huge part of the coffee industry’s third-wave movement. This movement strives to recognize how valuable coffee farms are.
Is Pour Over Coffee Worth It?
You can see pour-over coffee in many coffee shops. Baristas prepare it by putting coffee grounds in a filter placed on top of a coffee cup. They will then pour hot water carefully over the bed of coffee grounds to extract the flavors.
Considering the amount of time spent preparing this coffee, you may ask yourself, is pour over worth it?
If you will not look at the amount of time used for preparing pour-over coffee, this method is worth the effort. The reason is that this method is:
- mentally rewarding
- produces flavorful coffee
But apart from that, there are other reasons why pour-over coffee is worth the time and effort.
The Filter Process Reduces Coffee Oils
Diterpenes are coffee oils, which were found to increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and overall cholesterol.
Moreover, pour-over reduces the levels of diterpenes in coffees. Instant coffee, filtered out during the manufacturing process, contains almost no diterpenes.
To simply put it, pour-over filters out the number of coffee oils from the final product that you will consume.
Filtered Coffee Reduces The Risk Of Death From Cardiovascular Disease
Professor Dag Thelle, a senior professor in the public health and community medicine department at the University Of Gothenburg, conducted a study about coffee preparation processes.
She found out that filtered coffee can reduce the risk of death from any cause by 15 percent. It can also reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases in men by 20 percent.
In addition, Professor Thelle found out a 20 percent lowered risk of death from heart disease in women.
Sharpens Your Mental Focus
According to the American Heart Association, pour-over coffee can boost your mood and sharpen your mental focus. It can even improve your performance when you are exercising.
But despite the benefits, caffeine can be dangerous if taken excessively. It can disrupt your regular sleeping habits as it is a stimulant.
Pour-Over Coffee Has Outstanding Flavor
Pour-over coffee will provide you with a unique flavor profile. While the method may not be technologically advanced, the brewing takes time, providing a truly delicious cup of coffee.
In addition, filter coffee does not need you to be skilled like the baristas that you see in coffee shops. You only need to place the filter paper on top of a mug or cup, put the coffee grounds in it, and pour hot water.
Hence, there are no complicated instructions to achieve a flavorful cup of coffee.
You Can Control The Taste Of Your Coffee
Filter coffee makes it very easy to take complete control of how mild or strong your coffee’s flavor is. If you want a strong cup of coffee, you need to steep the coffee grounds for a long time.
On the other hand, mildly flavored coffee only takes a short steeping time.
Additionally, there is no limit to experimenting with pour-over coffee. You can do different tricks to achieve the ideal balance and flavor profiles for every cup.
Why Is Single-Origin Coffee Expensive?
Suppose you ever tried single-origin pour-over coffee from a cafe in your area. In that case, you may have noticed that a single cup is expensive. The reason is that this type of coffee bean is only produced during a particular period.
The coffee beans’ place of origin also enhances the flavor and fragrance of the product, which also adds up to its high price.
Apart from quality and taste, here are other factors that make this type of coffee expensive:
- place of origin
- harvesting process
- demand
Place Of Origin
One of the things that people appreciate most about single estate coffee is that they can trace where the beans originated. When buyers can trace where their coffee beans came from, they can learn the characteristics of that area. That said, traceability sets single-origin coffee from blends, thus making it more expensive.
Harvesting Process
Single-origin coffee beans come from small farms in one region or country. Farmers pick the beans by hand, so they are paid a fair wage. This factor also adds up to the price of the final product.
Demand
Single-origin coffee is becoming more and more popular these days. Coffee drinkers prefer this type of coffee more than blends as it gives them a deeper understanding of what they are drinking.
As mentioned, consumers appreciate their coffee more if they know where it originated. Since single estate coffee has a label that tells where the beans are harvested from, its demand is increasing significantly. As the demand increase, the price is also becoming more expensive.
Does Coffee Origin Matter?
Origin is an attribute of food that is continuously gaining importance to the global consumer market. It seems like every product the consumers purchase can tell their own story based on their lace of origin.
In terms of specialty coffee, particularly single-origin pour-over coffee, the place where it came from can provide you a sense of the sort of taste one can expect. The reason is that a coffee’s place of origin has an essential role in its character.
For instance, coffee beans from a particular region may taste bright and fruity. In contrast, the beans from the other may have more of a sweet or earthy flavor.
So, does coffee origin matter? It does. But the question is why?
1. The Origin Gives Consumers An Understanding Of The Coffee’s Flavor And Origin
The more you know about your coffee beans, the better you will be able to use them. Some people find it challenging to grasp the effects of variety, processing, and origin. However, knowing these factors will allow them to comprehend why some coffee beans are naturally sweeter, and some are bitter.
By knowing the origin of your coffee, you will be able to research it. Meaning you can know how the coffee beans were processed and roasted. As a result, you will be able to brew your coffee better since you already know the process that it when through.
2. Supports Small Farmers
Eighty percent of the coffee in the world comes from 18 million coffee farmers. These farmers earn approximately 50 percent of their household income from producing coffee. So, when you are purchasing single-origin pour-over coffee, you will be able to support the job and income of small farmers.
On the other hand, manufacturers mass-produce blends. True enough, this type of coffee is less expensive than single origin. However, large coffee producers can cut corners to lower their retail prices, similar to other mass-produced products.
Large coffee producers can hire more farmers with low wages to produce large amounts of coffee beans. They might even use agricultural practices that accelerate their coffee production. While these practices are convenient for them, they decrease the quality of the coffee beans they produce.
On the other hand, small farmers use traditional farming techniques for producing their crops. They also handpick their coffee beans. For this reason, they can produce high-quality coffee beans.
3. Single-Origin Coffee Encourages Sustainable Farming Practices
As mentioned, single-origin coffee is only available during specific seasons. The reason is that most coffee beans are only harvested once a year. So, every batch is significantly smaller than mass-produced blends, thus encouraging sustainable growing practices.
Back then, farmers plant coffees in the shade of trees to encourage biodiversity. However, large-scale coffee producers started cutting down trees to have more extensive land for coffee farming. Meaning sun-grown coffees are grown in rows without any canopy.
As a result, manufacturers destroy forests. They also use chemical pesticides and fertilizers, which degrades the soil and water.
Meanwhile, single-origin coffee is not necessarily grown in shades. But since small farmers produce them in small batches, they can focus on the quality of the coffee beans instead of their quantity.
Single-origin coffee beans are also environmentally sustainable since farmers try to preserve biodiversity. They also promote non-destructive growing practices.
Should You Choose Single Origin Pour Over Coffee?
Single-origin pour-over coffee is no doubt an excellent choice for coffee enthusiasts. It is indeed an expensive type of coffee, but it can offer unique flavors and aromas worth the price.
The combination of single-origin beans and pour-over coffee brewing method makes a smooth cup of joe clear from any oils and coffee grounds.
You can even support small farmers and coffee farms by purchasing single-origin coffee.
Even better, the pour-over method filters the oil from your coffee. As a result, there is a lower amount of cholesterol in the coffee that you are drinking.
But while single estate coffee is a great choice, the final decision is still up to you. If you want to spend less on your coffee, then you should opt for blends. But if you’re going to explore a new type of coffee that tells you where the beans came from, single-origin coffee is a good choice.
