A Single Origin blend? A new invention from Cafe Nero or common practice?

Store– Cafe Nero

Origin– Honduras

Charge– 30p upgrade to your beverage

Whether a cold or hot drink, you can ask for Honduras at the counter and for 30p more get a sharp slice of zest from almost 1670m above sea level to add a bit of edge to your day.

Boasting a high level of sustainability credentials to match the high altitude of this coffee grown in Marcala, Honduras

“harmonious blend of sweet orange, smooth almond and caramel note”

It definetely adds an edge to your day

SINGLE origin? – Technically on their website they admit it isn’t exactly one type of bean but it is all grown and harvested in Honduras. It is technically a mix of “Catimor, Parainema, Catuai and Caturra varietals”, and while three of them are not native to leafy town of Marcala, Honduras, however if they are grown there it will still count as Single Origin

Varietal? Is that like a posh way of saying variety or a bogus coffee term?

Actually neither it is a term found in winemaking when referring to different grapes or beans. The same way coffee beans from different places taste different, you get different beans from the same location, some with bitter qualities or sweet tones and are blended together whilst remaining ‘technically’ single origin.

These are different bean types that originate from elsewhere but are grown in the unique conditions of the Single Origin such as Honduras

It’s a bit of a cheat, it can be used to make up for the drawbacks of a bean grown in one region by blending different varietals grown form the same patch to attain the flavour profile you are after, such as toning down the acidity of Java with more chocolatey Varietals, grown in the same are and mixed in to the overall batch.

So it’s kind of like creating blend of coffee beans from the same area and combining them for maximum taste.

The key is that these varietals/different beans still originate form the same place; in this case, Honduras

Is That Cheating?

Possibly but if it tastes good, a farm producing one bean type may not carry a distinct enough flavour to penetrate that Latte or Cappuccino and thus the customer may feel cheated. I guess you could call it, oxymoronically a Single Origin Blend!