Why We Blend

Coffee blends have become somewhat controversial in recent years as more transparency in the coffee industry has caused roasters to be held accountable for their quality and business practices. Theories of companies using blends to mask low quality coffee or sell a coffee that is less popular have been perpetuated and, in some very unfortunate cases, confirmed.

But before we get into all that, let’s get some definitions straight.

What is a coffee blend?

Every coffee bean that you buy has to come from somewhere. This is called the origin. If all of the beans used to make a cup of coffee come from the same place, it’s deemed “single origin coffee.” If the coffee used to make a cup comes from multiple single origins, it’s called a blend.

Every origin is going to taste slightly different. Factors like moisture in the air, quality of soil, and altitude all play a role in defining the flavor profile of a coffee bean. A fancy word for all of these factors is called “terroir” (pronounced “tear-wahr”). So, based on the terroir and the subsequent processing of the coffee seed (washed, fermented, natural, etc.), every origin will taste different.

So, what’s the point of blending?

As is the case with any creative endeavor, experimentation is the key to innovation.

Where certain single origins and processes may absolutely blow your mind, blending these origins opens a whole new universe of flavor profiles.

For example, you may select a single origin that has hazelnut and date notes and blend it with a coffee that has a tart green apple and subtle chai spice character to make a sweet fall blend (check out our fall blend, Equinox here).

Our philosophy of blends centers on using high quality beans from each origin. We also frequently use coffees that we feature in our blends as single origins, because each origin is a high quality coffee on its own.

For us, blending isn’t about hiding bad quality, but highlighting great quality. Much like people, when you put the right beans together, their best characteristics will emerge and they become something far greater than the sum of their parts.

So, whether you’re blending beans or sharing ideas, do so with intentionality, transparency, and creativity. Then just sit back and see what happens.