At Revolver, we like to showcase the best cooperative coffee from around the world. In this blog post, we’d like to shine a light on single origin coffee: what it is, where it comes from, and who it is grown by. 

What is it? 

The clue is in the name! Single origin coffees come from a region or country, or put plainly, a single origin! Take our popular Honduras Ground, for example. The beans are grown by the COCAFCAL cooperative in the Capacus region of western Honduras. COCAFCAL represents twelve communities from the municipalities of San Pedro and Corquin, whose development programmes have benefited over 5000 people in Las Capucas and the surrounding regions, building libraries, sports centres and playing fields.   

One of the benefits of single origin is transparency. In the example given above, purchasing a bag of Honduras Ground is going to directly benefit the members of COCAFCAL. Many cooperators, ourselves included, love this aspect of our business – it is a significant motivation for the work we do, especially when we’re able to meet the farmers and see the work that is being done. You can read about Josh’s recent visit to the COCAFCAL cooperative in Honduras here. 

A note on taste. 

Single origin coffees are likely to offer more variation in taste compared to a blend. A number of factors are at play when coffee grows: climate, temperature, altitude, soil composition. Crops will differ year on year in terms of bitterness, acidity and fruitiness.  Let’s look at our Honduran coffee again. The distinctive flavours of caramel and apricot you are able to taste aren’t the result of artificial flavours or modification. They are the result of a coffee that is grown in the Las Capucas region at an altitude of 1,450 -1,700 metres above sea level, washed at the farms, and dried in a solar dryer owned by the cooperative. Unlike a blended coffee, which is carefully balanced to give a consistent profile, a single origin roast will give you a real taste of the region it was grown in; an invitation to travel the world in your morning cup. 

We are pioneers in ethical production. Whether we’re paying farmers consistent premiums through Fairtrade, ensuring our coffee is grown organically, or using plastic free packaging, everything in our world revolves around doing the right thing.

All of our coffee is grown by cooperatives. This means that the whole community is an equal shareholder in the business, and that your money goes directly to supporting their development, education and wellbeing.