The 30-second answer
- 🌍 A single-origin coffee comes from one country, or even one region: it expresses its terroir.
- 🌸 Africa: floral, fruity, bright acidity. Latin America: smooth, chocolatey, balanced. Asia and Oceania: bold, spicy, dense body.
- 🏔️ AA, SHB, SHG refer to bean size or altitude, not a flavour.
- ☕ To start: Brazil for smoothness, Ethiopia for fragrance, Sumatra for body.
Updated 27 September 2026 · Reading time: 10 min
Like wine, coffee tastes different depending on where it grows: soil, altitude, climate and the way the coffee cherries are processed give it its personality. An Ethiopian coffee and a Brazilian coffee have almost nothing in common in the cup. This guide helps you find your way.
What is single-origin coffee?
A single-origin coffee comes from one country, often from a single region. It is the opposite of a blend, which combines several origins to achieve a consistent taste. Single-origin coffee has a more distinctive character: it's the best way to discover the diversity of coffee flavours.
Africa: floral, fruity, bright acidity
East Africa is the birthplace of arabica. Its coffees are the most fragrant.
- Ethiopia: floral notes of jasmine, citrus and stone fruit. Ethiopia Moka Sidamo ORGANIC offers jasmine and apricot, with a silky texture. Our guide: Ethiopian coffee and Moka Sidamo.
- Kenya: red fruit, citrus, bright, lively acidity. Kenya AA is one of the most aromatic coffees in Africa.
- Tanzania: grown on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, powerful and floral. See Tanzania AA Bourbon.
- Burundi: clean and fruity, with notes of blackberry and orange in Burundi Kalico.
Latin America: smooth, chocolatey, balanced
The easiest coffees to love, perfect every day and with milk.
- Brazil: the world's largest producer, smooth, low-acid coffees. Brazil Santos is the smoothest in our range.
- Colombia: rounded, light, fruity. See Colombia Excelso ORGANIC.
- Peru and Mexico: chocolate, fruit, praline, often organically farmed: Peru HB ORGANIC, Mexico Altura ORGANIC.
- Central America: Guatemala (chocolate, spice), Honduras (chocolate and fruit), Nicaragua (caramel, tropical fruit), Costa Rica (hazelnut, apricot).
- Cuba: caramel, very little acidity, in Cuba Serrano.
Asia and Oceania: bold, spicy, dense body
- Indonesia (Sumatra): heavy body, low acidity, notes of red fruit and spice. Sumatra Gayo Mountain ORGANIC is one of our boldest coffees.
- Papua New Guinea: almond, toasted bread, a rounded cup. See Papua New Guinea.
The grand crus
Some terroirs produce rare coffees in very small quantities: Jamaica Blue Mountain, with its protected designation, smooth and honeyed, or San Cristobal Galapagos ORGANIC, grown on an island in the archipelago, with citrus notes. To understand their price: Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee: why is it so expensive?
Summary table
| Origin | Profile | Intensity (out of 10) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia (Moka Sidamo) | Jasmine, apricot | 5 | Filter, French press |
| Kenya AA | Red fruit, citrus | 6 | Filter, French press |
| Tanzania AA | Floral, powerful | 7 | Moka pot, espresso |
| Brazil Santos | Smooth, lightly fruity | 3 | Café au lait, moka pot |
| Colombia Excelso | Rounded, fruity | 4 | Filter, moka pot |
| Mexico Altura | Milk chocolate, praline | 6 | Moka pot, latte |
| Sumatra | Red fruit, spicy, dense | 7 | Moka pot, espresso |
| Papua New Guinea | Almond, toasted bread | 7 | Moka pot, with milk |
AA, SHB, SHG: the labels to know
- AA (Kenya, Tanzania): the largest bean size grade, associated with the best lots.
- SHB (Strictly Hard Bean): a hard bean grown at high altitude (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras).
- SHG (Strictly High Grown): same idea, grown at high altitude (Nicaragua).
- Excelso (Colombia): a good-sized bean grade intended for export.
These labels indicate bean quality, not a specific flavour. To understand the two main coffee species, also read Arabica vs robusta: what's the difference?.
Choosing your single-origin coffee in 4 steps
- Start from the flavour family you like. Africa for fragrance and fruit, Latin America for smoothness and chocolate, Asia and Oceania for body and spice.
- Check the intensity in the table. It ranges from 3 out of 10 for Brazil Santos to 7 out of 10 for Sumatra, Tanzania and Papua New Guinea.
- Match the origin to your brewer. Filter and French press for floral, fruity coffees, moka pot and espresso for bold coffees, café au lait for smooth coffees.
- Taste several origins before choosing. Comparing an Ethiopian, a Colombian and a Brazilian coffee is still the surest way to find yours.
The roaster's tip: if you're new to single origins, start with a smooth origin in the morning and save a very fragrant one for the weekend, brewed as filter or French press: that's where terroir comes through best.
AFRICA'S BRIGHTEST
Kenya AA Coffee
A bright, highly fragrant coffee: red fruit, citrus, floral notes and lovely acidity. The AA grade corresponds to the largest bean size, reserved for the best lots. Enjoy it black, as filter or French press.
Frequently asked questions
What is single-origin coffee?
Coffee from a single country or region, not blended. It expresses the flavours specific to its terroir.
What is the smoothest coffee?
Brazilian coffees, such as Brazil Santos, are the smoothest and least acidic.
Which coffee should I choose if I like fruity coffee?
East African coffees: Ethiopia, Kenya or Burundi.
Which coffee is the strongest?
Among our coffees, Sumatra, Tanzania and Papua New Guinea have the highest intensity (7 out of 10).
What is mocha coffee?
The name comes from the port of Mocha in Yemen, from which Ethiopian coffees were once shipped. Today, it refers to Ethiopian coffees with a floral fragrance.
Key facts and sources
- Single-origin coffee: coffee from a single country, often from a single region, as opposed to a blend.
- Intensities in the table: from 3 out of 10 for Brazil Santos to 7 out of 10 for Sumatra, Tanzania and Papua New Guinea.
- AA: the largest bean size grade in Kenya and Tanzania, associated with the best lots.
- SHB and SHG: beans grown at high altitude (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua).
- Excelso: a good-sized Colombian bean grade intended for export.
The flavour profiles described here are a guide only: they vary with the harvest, the processing of the cherries and how the coffee is brewed.
Three origins to start with
Further reading
- Kenyan coffee: taste, origin and brewing
- Ethiopian coffee and Moka Sidamo: the guide
- Arabica vs robusta: what's the difference?
- Specialty coffee: what does the SCA score mean?
In short: Africa for fragrance and fruit, Latin America for smoothness and chocolate, Asia and Oceania for body and spice. The best way to find your coffee is still to taste several origins: our 125 g packs are made for exactly that.
Our 100% arabica coffees are craft-roasted in France in small batches and delivered anywhere in Morocco in 2 to 5 days. Free delivery from 350 DH, cash on delivery.
