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A big part of enjoying something comes down to understanding and education.

I’ve been enthralled by a few passionate experts imparting their knowledge to the degree that I have imagined myself enjoying their hobby just as much as they seem to.

I almost took up old glass medicine bottle collecting after speaking to a tradesman at the Milnerton Market, but that’s a story for another day.

Then there are coffee roasters, whose proficiency in the world of coffee beans, which are all so unique in flavour and complexity, make me appreciate my morning cuppa just that much more.

As coffee aficionado Jeremy Brooks said in a recent HuffPost article, “once people start taking the time to learn about the coffee, the processes and the growing, and they learn about how complex it can be, they start to appreciate it.”

A lot of what makes the world of coffee so interesting is the difference between single-origin coffees and blends.

Basically, single-origin coffee comes from a single producer, crop, or region in one country, whereas a blend is a mix of different flavoured beans from different places.

Single-origins are typically very expressive of the country where they’re purchased from, whereas blends are combined to communicate a roaster’s specific vibe or signature.

Brooks has an anecdote:

“Ethiopian single-origin coffee is like eating a peach. Whereas with blends, we can play around and position them in a way that actually gives you a little bit more of a dynamic range: Instead of having a peach, you have a peach cobbler.”

Often blends include single-origin beans, but the difference comes from how a coffee roaster will build a special flavour profile.

Terbodore Coffee Roasters has quite a comprehensive collection of blends, with each one speaking for the roaster’s vibe.

The Great Dane blend, for example, is a tribute to the roaster’s original Great Dane, named Sultan.

It has beans from Indonesia, Brazil, and Ethiopia, creating a lingering dark chocolate flavour with a smooth and structured finish:

The Revival blend, with beans from Colombia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Brazil, is a little different in comparison.

Terbodore created this citrusy blend to inspire, with a combination of flavour that embodies all that is good in people, such as hope, strength, honesty, and integrity.

So how does one choose between single-origins and blends, then? Like many things, it depends on your mood and your bank.

Blended coffee can have depth, but some folks complain that it can tend towards needing sugar or milk to make it taste more interesting.

On the other hand, single-origin coffees are more of an acquired taste, with an acidness and sourness that can be too much for certain palates.

Coffee company owner Talitha Clemons points out that a blend is not necessarily inferior if it doesn’t taste as complex as a single-origin.

Then there’s the matter of cost, where single-origins are known to be more pricey compared to blends. Again, it is up to you, but it’s also worth considering a hugely important factor – the ethical practices of the coffee company.

Clemons makes a good point:

“I would love it if people drank more coffee that is sourced ethically from roasters who practice direct trade, safe and equitable work environments for employees, and who bring us tasty coffees.”

“There is a need for wage transparency, racial equity, access and so much more in the industry as a whole.”

Terbodore has three major single-origin coffees, all with social and environmental responsibility at the forefront:

The Burundi Rugembe Hill beans have a berry, caramel taste and have been sourced from Rugembe Hill, located about three kilometres from the Migoti washing station in Mutambu Commune, Burundi.

Since 2016, Migoti has worked with the surrounding community to restore the coffee production after years of neglect due to war and insecurity, planting tens of thousands of new trees in the past four years.

Coffee trees are owned by the local farmers, who maintain micro-plantations on their family land on the hills surrounding Migoti. 

Likewise, the beans sourced from Uganda – Uganda Buzibiti Pura Cepa Fermentation (fruity and vibrant), and Uganda Bugisu AA Organic (full-bodied and chocolatey) – are also done so with long-term sustainability, science, and innovation in mind.

This video showcases more about the work Terbodore does with the coffee communities:

You can find the full range of Terbodore’s blends and single-origin coffee via their online shop, with the goods delivered right to your door.

At the end of the day, it comes down to education for appreciation, as well as realising that the coffee you’re drinking doesn’t just taste the way it does by mistake, but rather because it has been crafted that way with intent.

[source:huffpost]