Blended coffee beans: what are they?

While coffee lovers generally know what coffee beans are, there are other subtleties about coffee that can make the choice more difficult. For example, packages of coffee beans may say "blend" or "pure origin," sometimes next to an organic or Fairtrade logo.

Is it a question of quality? An indication of the origin? Information on how the coffee trees were grown? In reality, it is none of these things. The term "blend" refers to the composition of the package of coffee beans. Here is a detailed explanation of this type of coffee, so that you can learn about the production process and the advantages of this type of coffee, as well as how to choose it properly.

The definition of blended coffee beans

In English, the word "blend" can be defined as "mixture". But in the roasting industry, we prefer to speak ofblending, as we would for wine. In fact, it is not just a matter of mixing several coffee beans of different origins or types.

For a roaster, the creation of a blend coffee consists of assembling coffees from several origins, themselves roasted separately to preserve all their aromas and specificities. Sometimes, for example, we have to deal with 2, 3 or 4 blended Arabica coffees coming from several countries of the world (Brazil, Rwanda, Colombia, Ethiopia, Peru, Vietnam, etc.). In other cases, we can find blended coffees that also mix several varieties (arabica and robusta for example).

The idea is to find the best harmony and create a unique coffee bean. Some pure coffees have very pronounced characteristics (bitterness, floral notes, slight caramelized taste, acidity, chocolate aroma, etc.) and others are more neutral. Blending them together will soften and enhance all the beans used.

The difference between blended and pure origin coffee beans is quite simple in theory: the former is composed of several origins, while the latter only includes beans from the same geographical area, and sometimes even from a single producer.

Note: blended coffee is not only available in beans, it is also available in ground coffee to be placed in the filter of the coffee maker or to be used with an espresso machine, and even in capsules and pods.

The methods of making assembled coffee beans

To create a good blended coffee, one must first select quality beans, roasted according to the method that corresponds to their particularities. A master roaster must adapt the roasting steps to the products he works with (temperature and drying time of the beans in particular) and the degree of roasting according to the desired taste and aromas.

When it comes to blending, the first step is to select a coffee with a neutral, slightly sweet taste, which will serve as the basis for the blend. This is the case with many coffees from Brazil, Cuba or Nicaragua.

Then, it is a matter of finding a coffee whose origin and variety will bring a unique flavor to the preparation. For example, beans from Ethiopia for their floral notes, coffees from Ecuador for their woody flavor, richly flavored coffees from Colombia or the Democratic Republic of Congo, etc.

Of course, finding the ideal balance of flavors requires extensive testing and experience in roasting and blending. Which origins blend best? Should you blend 2 or 3 origins to create a certain type of coffee? What percentage of each coffee should be blended? What would be the ideal roasting degree to obtain a harmonious coffee? These are just some of the questions that need to be answered when creating a successful blend.

The preparation of blended coffees is therefore an art that only master roasters can master to perfection. However, there is nothing to stop a coffee consumer from testing at home and creating his own blend from beans of various origins.

The advantages of a coffee blend

For artisan roasters, coffee shops and large companies that sell coffee, blends have several advantages:

• It is a way to stand out from the competition, by offering coffee beans with unique aromas and tastes, with their own recipes;
• they can be adapted to the tastes of the majority of consumers, who are sometimes not very fond of full-bodied or very acidic pure origin coffees for example;
• they are less dependent on the inconsistency of the taste of the harvested coffee beans from one year to the next (more or less acidic, bitter, floral, chocolatey, etc.), having the possibility of adjusting the proportion of each coffee blended to obtain a product that always remains the same.

For the consumer, buying a blended coffee bean allows to have a certain guarantee of the balance and the good taste of the coffee he will taste. With the blend, a great connoisseur will be able to choose the blend that will bring him the aromas and flavors he is looking for, and a less informed consumer will always be able to enjoy a well-balanced cup of coffee, without too strong a note, and pleasant in the mouth.

Criteria for choosing a blend coffee

Blends of coffee beans from various countries are now widespread, which can make it difficult to choose. To help coffee lovers choose the right product for them, roasters and coffee vendors can provide a variety of guidelines:

• the countries of origin of the assembled grains;
• the degree of intensity of the coffee blend (light coffee, aromatic coffee with a little more body, strong coffee, etc.);
• predominant notes (red fruits, citrus, floral notes, chocolate, hazelnut, woody flavor, etc.);
• the body of the coffee (more or less thick and creamy for example);
• the best times of the day to enjoy it;
• etc.

Then, it is up to each person to determine his or her own tastes and to choose a particular blended coffee accordingly.

Another criterion of choice can be more ecological and social. While there are some rather intensive coffee cultures, there are also sustainable cultivation and extraction methods, biodynamic and organic coffee, all of which have a reduced impact on our environment.

Finally, we can rely on the way the roaster or the retailer is supplied. Working directly with producers or through fair trade cooperatives ensures that coffee plantation workers are well paid and have decent working conditions.

We recommend these other pages:

• What is pure origin coffee bean?