What’s the difference between single-origin and blended coffee capsules?

Single-origin coffee derives its name from the way it is sourced. All the beans are sourced from a single place. For instance, all the beans might come from one country. However, the origin could be more granular than that, i.e., the beans could be sourced from a single plot of land, in a specific region, within a particular country.

In contrast, blended coffee does not have a specific origin. It combines different coffees from several sources to create a particular profile of flavor that appeals to a target market.

This article will look at several factors that can help a private label business owner distinguish the two types of coffee products.

Origin

The origin of coffee beans is essential for a variety of reasons. Top of the list is flavor. The flavor produced is consistent when you derive all your beans from a specific region or plot of land.

Another reason this is true is that specific farms tend to grow particular varieties of coffee. Your customers can repeatedly rely on your business to deliver the same excellent taste.

The second reason for sourcing from a specific origin is your power over the production process. You want your customers to enjoy the best flavor as a business owner. You also want an edge that sets your product apart from your competition in the market.

Gaining more control over a farm allows you to dictate how the coffee plants are cared for, the harvesting schedule, worker treatment, and chemical products used (or not used) on the coffee plants.

With blended coffee, you have little to no control over any of these factors from a production point of view. This little control, however, does not imply that you lose control of the flavor of coffee that hits the shelves.

The whole point of blended coffee is to take advantage of the different coffee flavors available.

Flavor

Each type of coffee has its strength and weakness when it comes to flavor. For instance, while single-origin coffee boasts a rich, robust, fruity flavor, blended coffee is less robust and much more simplified. Blended coffee also tastes like chocolate, caramel, or nuts.

Roasters achieve blended coffee by mixing coffee from different regions to create a preferred taste. They can associate specific flavors with certain points in time that customers can relate to. For instance, flavors can be associated with seasons like summer and winter.

Despite the single-origin coffee’s rich flavor, it is susceptible to seasonal changes. The beans are likely to change flavor depending on the weather.

However, this is where blended coffee takes the lead. Blended coffee does not depend on the season, allowing it to have a more balanced, consistent flavor.

Ultimately, your customers determine which flavor gives them the boost they want in their morning cup of joe. Your objective as a private label business owner should be to provide them with options they can appreciate.

Cost of production

Because one requires a tight grip on the production process of single-origin coffee, it costs more. This affects the prices you sell your coffee capsules at.

However, the upside is that you can always trace all your coffee back to the farm it was grown, who owns the farm, who works on that farm, what the working conditions are, how the beans are handled after harvest, which company processed the beans, when they were processed, etc.

This quality allows you, as a seller, to offer your customers insight into the production process.

Customers have become wearier of human rights violations regarding the production of goods and services. They want to know that someone somewhere did not lose their life for them to get a cup of coffee in the morning.

Transparency in the single-origin coffee production process offers them this reassurance.

Blended coffee, on the other hand, does not pay special attention to the sources of coffee used to create the blends. The process is much cheaper but may be vulnerable to exploitation by unethical entrepreneurs.

Customer preference

Remember that you have no control over this process—your customers like what they like.

That said, it doesn’t mean you can’t do something about it. There is a way to get around this hurdle. Developing coffee products in your business that appeal to a particular group of people is key.

For instance, you can create blends of several flavors that revolve around chocolate, caramel, or other core flavors. Each core flavor has a great number of lovers in the market. All you need to do is show them that they can enjoy their favorite flavor in different tasty ways.

Alternatively, you can build a brand around single-origin coffee. This will allow you to master the process and consistently produce a flavor that customers love, even with changing weather patterns and seasons.

Conclusion

No evidence points towards which coffee tastes better or which coffee will bring you more sales in your business. Success can come from either product. The difference is how far a business owner is willing to bring uniqueness to their brand and give their customers more value than they bargained for.

Single-origin coffee’s value lies in its purity, while blended coffee’s value lies in its consistency in flavor. Your business can offer your customers a choice. Just make sure customers are privy to the superpowers of each so they can tame their expectations during preparations.

You can set expectations by printing source information on the coffee capsules.