Our Single Origins, One Shelf

Lots of people picture Sumatra as a dark coffee. Ours is roasted Full City, our light roast. So is every other single origin on our shelf. That way the cup tastes like where the coffee grew. Our guide on how to choose coffee beans explains what a single origin is. This post walks our whole single origin shelf.

One Roast, Twelve Places

We roast 50+ coffees, and twelve of them are single origins. Each one comes from a single country. Blends are a different job, and we explain that in We Mix Roast Levels (Not Just Origins). Dark roasts have their own story too, in Why RoCo Still Roasts Dark.

Every single origin comes in a 12 oz or 5 lb bag. You can order whole bean, or ground for drip, a paper cone or a French press. Kona 100% is the one exception, sold in 12 oz only.

Central and South America

Brazil ($21.50 for 12 oz) is deliciously smooth, with medium body and medium acidity. Nothing is pushed too far, so it is an easy first single origin.

Mexico ($21.50) is very well balanced, with a delicate body. It is pleasantly dry and finishes crisp.

Costa Rica ($21.50) is 100% Costa Rica with nothing blended in. It has a hearty sweetness and exceptional body.

Guatemala ($21.50) is medium to full in body, with chocolate undertones. Those notes come from the bean, not from a dark roast.

We carry two Colombias. Colombia Supremo ($21.50) is our classic Colombia, grown from Colombian Typica trees. It is classically rich and full bodied. It is also the only single origin you can get as a decaf, and our decaf guide covers that side.

Colombia N.G. ($22.50) comes from the same Typica trees and is just as rich. The N.G. means Naturally Grown: organic, shade grown and fair trade.

Peru N.G. ($22.50) is also Naturally Grown, so it is organic, shade grown and fair trade too. It is medium to full bodied, with a hint of smokiness. A subtle sweetness sits underneath. You can read how we think about this line on our Naturally Grown page, or meet the rest of the line in our Island Blends guide.

East Africa, Indonesia and Beyond

Uganda ($22.00) is our taste of East Africa. It has the winey acidity of East African coffees, with a slightly lighter body. Try it as a pour over to taste that acidity clearly.

Java Estate ($22.00) is medium bodied and slightly acidic. A hint of earthy spice gives every cup some character.

Sumatra ($22.00) is full bodied, with deep richness and subdued acidity. It has a syrupy chocolate flavor that carries right through milk. It does not need a dark roast to taste big.

Papua New Guinea ($22.00) is full bodied, with tremendous complexity. A gentle, even acidity keeps it balanced.

Kona 100% ($129.00) is pure Kona, not a Kona blend. It is the only coffee from the United States that we import, roast and sell. The cup is medium in body and fairly acidic, with subtle wine-like tones.

Taste Them Side by Side

Comparing two origins side by side is an easy way to learn what you like. Brew them the same way, on the same morning. The Exciting Origins Adventure Pack ($61.50) puts three full 12 oz bags on your counter: Costa Rica, Mexico and Brazil. All three are Full City, so the differences come from where each coffee grew.

Our notes on the best way to brew coffee at home cover drip, French press and pour over. Then keep the beans fresh with our guide on how to store coffee beans.

Browse the Shelf

See all twelve in one place on our single origin shelf. We have roasted here in Santa Barbara since 1989. Pick a country, then pick a grind.