Spring is the perfect time to refresh your coffee routine.
With lighter mornings and brighter days, many people look to swap heavier winter coffees for something cleaner, smoother, or more vibrant. But if you’re choosing one coffee for everyday use, it can be hard to know where to start.
The most common question we get is:
Should I choose a single origin or a blend?
Both are excellent options - the key is choosing the right one for how you actually drink your coffee.
What Is the Difference Between Coffee and Specialty Coffee?
Coffee is the broad category. Beans can come from multiple sources, with limited traceability, and are often roasted for consistency at scale.
Specialty coffee, on the other hand, is focused on quality and flavour. Beans are graded, traceable, and roasted with care to highlight their natural characteristics.
The result?
- Cleaner flavour
- More distinct tasting notes
- Better consistency between bags
If you want your coffee to taste the way it’s described on the label, specialty coffee is the better choice.
Single Origin vs Blend Coffee: What’s the Difference?
Single Origin Coffee
Single origin coffee comes from one country, region, or farm.
It’s typically more expressive and allows you to taste the influence of where it was grown (often referred to as “terroir”).
Typical flavour profile:
Citrus • Berry • Floral • Clean finish
Best for:
- Pour-over
- Filter coffee
- Drinking black
Blend Coffee
A blend is made by combining two or more coffees to create a balanced, consistent flavour.
Blends are designed to be reliable and easy to enjoy every day.
Typical flavour profile:
Chocolate • Caramel • Nutty • Smooth
Best for:
- Espresso
- Milk-based drinks (flat whites, lattes)
- Everyday coffee
👉 There’s no right or wrong choice - it depends on your taste and how you brew.
Best Coffee for Espresso, Filter and Milk Drinks
Best Coffee for Milk Drinks
If you drink flat whites, lattes or cappuccinos, a blend is usually the best choice.
Chocolate and caramel notes cut through milk and stay balanced without becoming bitter.
Best Coffee for Black Coffee (Filter & Pour-Over)
For black coffee, single origin coffees are ideal.
They offer brighter acidity, fruit notes, and more complexity - especially as the cup cools.
Best Coffee for Espresso
Both work well:
- Blend → balanced, forgiving, easy to dial in
- Single origin → more complex, fruit-forward, slightly more technique required
How to Choose Between Single Origin and Blend
Ask yourself two simple questions:
- Do you drink your coffee with milk or black?
- Do you prefer consistency or variety?
👉 Choose a blend if you want:
- Reliable flavour
- A coffee that works well with milk
- Easy daily brewing
👉 Choose a single origin if you want:
- More flavour complexity
- Seasonal variety
- A better black coffee experience
Many people keep both at home - one for daily use, one for slower brews.
Coffee Grind Guide for Home Brewing
Grind size has a huge impact on flavour. Here’s a quick guide:
- Espresso: Fine (like powdered sugar)
- Pour-over: Medium-fine (like sand)
- AeroPress: Medium-fine
- Cafetière: Coarse (like sea salt)
Quick fix guide:
- Bitter coffee → grind coarser
- Sour or weak coffee → grind finer
Start with a ratio of 60g coffee per litre of water and adjust to taste.
Best Coffee for Spring (Flat Cap Picks)
If you’re looking for an easy starting point:
- Flat Cap Blend → smooth, chocolatey, perfect for everyday coffee
- Spring Blend → bright, sweet and silky, a great all rounder
- Seasonal African Single Origin → bright, citrusy, ideal for filter
- Swiss Water Decaf → full flavour, no caffeine
Try Before You Commit
Not sure what suits you best?
Try a few coffees side by side with our 227g bags, or keep things simple with a coffee subscription, where fresh, seasonal coffees are delivered to your door.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between single origin and blend coffee doesn’t have to be complicated.
If you drink coffee with milk or want something reliable, go for a blend.
If you enjoy black coffee and want more variety, choose a single origin.
Or do what most coffee lovers end up doing - keep both and enjoy the best of each.
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