Pick single origin if you want to taste a specific place and do not mind the cup changing from one bag to the next. Pick a blend if you want the same cup every time. The three bags we compare here are each labeled with one origin: No. 1 Common Sense from Colombia, No. 2 Good Sense from Ethiopia and No. 3 Position from Indonesia. For an everyday cup, start with Common Sense.
What is the difference between single origin and a blend?
A single origin coffee comes from one place, which can be a country, a region or a farm, and the label tells you which. A blend mixes coffees from more than one place, usually to make a cup that tastes the same from one bag to the next. Neither one is better in general. Single origin shows you the character of where the coffee grew and how it was processed. A blend is built for consistency. Our labels name a region and a process for each coffee, so you know what you are drinking.
When does single origin win?
It wins when you want to notice the coffee. A natural Ethiopia and a fully washed Colombian taste like different drinks, and you can only find that out if the bag tells you what is inside. It also wins when you want to learn what you like. If you try three single origins and one stands out, you now know something you can use. Our what body means in coffee post helps you name what you are tasting.
When does a blend win?
It wins when you do not want to think about it. If the bag has to taste the same every Monday, a blend is built to do that, since the roaster can change what goes in to keep the cup steady. It can also win for milk drinks, where the nuances of one region are covered anyway. We do not sell a blend among the three coffees compared here, and we are not going to tell you a blend is worse. It is a different goal.
How do our three single origins compare?
This table is built from the label of each bag.
| No. 1 Common Sense | No. 2 Good Sense | No. 3 Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia | Sidama, Ethiopia | Aceh, Takengon, Indonesia |
| Altitude | 1,300 to 1,500 m | 1,700 to 1,900 m | 1,100 to 1,600 m |
| Process | Fully washed, solar dried | Natural, hand sorted, dried on raised beds | Wet-hulled (giling basah) |
| Roast | Medium | Medium-light | Not declared by the roaster |
| Notes | Cocoa, red apple, brown sugar | Milk chocolate, fruit, caramel | Dark chocolate, dried fruit, earthy |
| Best for | The cup you make every morning | The slow first cup, drunk black | Espresso, moka and milk drinks |
All three are $28 for a 12 oz bag, whole bean or ground, with free US shipping, so you pick by taste and not by budget.
Which one should you buy for your morning cup?
If you make a pot and drink it while you do something else, buy Common Sense. The roaster calls it the cup you make every morning without thinking about it, and it takes milk without falling apart. If you want to sit with the cup and taste it, buy Good Sense and drink it black, because the roaster says milk buries the fruit in a natural Ethiopia. If your morning cup is an espresso, a moka pot or a latte, buy Position, which the roaster says holds its shape under milk and under ice.
Our pick
No. 1 Common Sense
Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia · 1,300 to 1,500 m · Fully washed, solar dried · Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica · Medium
Cocoa, red apple and brown sugar on the label, for the cup you make every morning without thinking about it.
Our pick
No. 2 Good Sense
Sidama, Ethiopia · 1,700 to 1,900 m · Natural, hand sorted, dried on raised beds · Indigenous heirloom cultivars · Medium-light
Milk chocolate, fruit and caramel on the label, for the slow first cup when you actually want to taste something.
Our pick
No. 3 Position
Aceh, Takengon, Indonesia · 1,100 to 1,600 m · Wet-hulled (giling basah) · Tim Tim, Typica, Ateng, Onan Ganjang, Jember
Dark chocolate, dried fruit and earthy on the label, for espresso, moka and anything you are going to put milk in.
The roaster is Temecula Coffee Roasters in Temecula, California. If you want to see what Position tastes like cup by cup, read what No. 3 Position tastes like. If you are new to pour-over, pour-over for beginners covers gear and the first three brews, and you can browse all ten coffees. If you find one you like, the subscription is 11% off with skip or cancel in one click.
Questions people ask
Is single origin coffee better than a blend?
Neither is better in general. Single origin shows the character of one place and process, while a blend is built to taste the same from one bag to the next.
What does single origin mean on a coffee bag?
It means the coffee comes from one place, which can be a country, a region or a farm. Our labels name the region and the process for each coffee.
Which single origin coffee is best for everyday drinking?
We would start with No. 1 Common Sense, a fully washed Colombian with cocoa, red apple and brown sugar notes. The roaster calls it the cup you make every morning.
Free printable
Keep the ratio chart on your fridge
One page with grams, level tablespoons and scoops for every cup size and for coffee makers from 2 to 14 cups. Leave your email and the download link appears right here.