Understanding the Coffee Bag Label (Part 2): What to Know About Single Origin Coffee
When it comes to buying Single Origin coffee, the label on the bag is your best guide. It provides crucial details about where your coffee comes from, how it was processed, and what flavours you can expect. In this article, we will break down the key elements of the Single Origin Coffee Label using examples from our own coffee products.
The Disclaimer
It is important to note that different coffee roasters may present varying information on their coffee labels. What we will discuss here is common across most coffee bags.
Watch the Video
The Product Name: What Does It Tell You?
The product name in the Single Origin coffee gives you the first hint of what the coffee is about. Unlike coffee blends, the product name for Single Origins typically reveals its origin and some key characteristics.
For example, our (a) Nicaragua La Bastilla and (b) Brazil Peaberry Natural.
From these names, here is what you can learn:
- Country of Origin: The first word usually indicates the country where the coffee is grown.
- Producer’s or Farm’s Name: In the case of Nicaragua La Bastilla, “La Bastilla” refers to the farm where the coffee was produced.
- Distinct Bean Characteristics: For our Brazil Peaberry Natural, “Peaberry” refers to the unique shape of the beans, while “Natural” indicates the processing method.
Why is the Naming Format Different?
In short, the product name of a Single Origin will always include the country of origin. After that, it is up to the roaster to decide what else to highlight based on what they feel is most important for the consumer to know. It could be the farm’s reputation, a unique characteristic of the beans, or the processing method.
For practical reasons, at Mighty Wonders Coffee Roasters, we tend to keep the names relatively short to focus on the key aspects, with more details presented in the later sections on the label.
Digging Deeper: The Second Section of the Label
In the second section of the label, you will find key details such as:
• Region, Farm, Producer’s Name • Process • Varietal • Altitude
The Region, Farm and Producer’s Name information is straightforward, providing the specific location where the coffee was grown and harvested and who produced the coffee. Next, we will explain what the process, varietal, and altitude details means on the label.
(A) What does the Process mean?
Process is the shorten word for coffee processing method. For instance, our coffee examples undergo the following processing methods.
- Brazil Peaberry: Natural and Aerobic Fermentation
- Nicaragua La Bastilla: Washed and Yeast Fermentation
What each processing method mean:
- Natural Process: The beans are dried with the fruit still intact, leading to fruitier and complex flavours.
- Washed Process: The beans are cleaned before drying, resulting in a cleaner and brighter flavour.
- Aerobic and Yeast Fermentation: These are more specific steps within processing that add even uniqueness to the flavours, often making it more nuanced or distinct.
You may also come across processing methods like honey, anaerobic, pulped natural, or wet-hulled on coffee labels. These methods indicate how the coffee cherry was transformed into the final green bean. Each process influences the coffee’s flavour profile, body, and acidity.
For example, washed coffees often have a brighter acidity and a lighter body, whereas naturally processed coffees typically offer a fuller body with lower acidity.
(B) What is Varietal?
Let’s explore the varietal. This refers to the specific subspecies of the coffee plant. Think of the “breed” of the coffee plant. So, looking at our Brazil and Nicaragua examples.
Their varietals are:
- Brazil: Red Catuai Peaberry
- Nicaragua: Hybrid H2, Caturra
So, what do these varietals mean and represent?
- Red Catuai Peaberry: Catuai is a resilient hybrid coffee plant known for nutty and chocolatey flavours. The “Peaberry” is a rare mutation where only one rounded bean forms, often producing more intense and concentrated flavours.
- Hybrid H2, Caturra: Hybrid H2 indicates that it is a disease-resistant varietal and since it is a Caturra varietal too, it tells us that it flavours will be balanced acidity and juicy.
There are other varietals like Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, Typica and Geisha and others, that you will see on labels too.
Knowing the varietal tells us which coffee plant the beans came from, and it gives us hints of the origin of flavours and what to expect in terms of taste and quality.
(C) What Does Altitude Tell You?
Altitude plays a crucial role in coffee quality. Beans grown at higher altitudes develop more slowly, allowing them to absorb more nutrients, leading to denser, more flavourful beans.
- High Altitude (above 1,200 meters): These beans tend to have bright acidity, complex flavours, and fruity or floral notes.
- Lower Altitude (below 1,200 meters): These beans are generally milder, with chocolatey or nutty flavours and lower acidity.
So, in general, based on the altitude, you will get clues on the quality and flavours of the coffee.
The Last Section: Tasting Notes
The last piece of information on the label is the tasting notes. These notes are derived from the roaster’s assessment after roasting the beans.
At Mighty Wonders Coffee Roasters, we showcase how the coffee tastes both as an espresso and with milk. The tasting notes reflect the actual flavours when you brew your coffee and it gives you a clear idea of what to expect in your cup.
Summary: The Story Behind Every Coffee Label
In conclusion, a Single Origin coffee label tells you the story of the coffee from farm to cup. By understanding the details on the label, you can evaluate what kind of coffee you enjoy, whether it is the origin, varietal, processing method or altitude or tasting notes that drives your preferences.
Knowing this helps you make informed decisions about your coffee purchases and enhances your overall coffee experience.
