Brewing Single Origin Specialty Coffee Just as Filter? Think Again

For years, single-origin coffee has mostly been used for filter brewing methods, such as pour-over, AeroPress, and batch brewing. The general consensus is that these brewing methods are best at highlighting the delicate nuances, origin, and complexity of the coffee’s flavour profile. But what if we told you that single-origin coffee can be just as amazing, if not more so, when brewed as espresso?

Why Brew Single Origin as Espresso?

Espresso is often considered a blend’s domain. It's designed to offer balance, consistency, and body. But with more and more people wanting to get the most out of a coffee's unique characteristics, baristas and home brewers are experimenting with single origins as espresso. The results? An amplified, bold, and unique experience that showcases the coffee’s flavour profile in an entirely different light.

Unlike filter brewing, where flavours are delicately extracted over several minutes, espresso condenses these flavours into a highly concentrated shot in under 30 seconds. This compression intensifies acidity, body, and sweetness, bringing out elements in single-origin coffee that might be more subtle in filter brewing.

Adjusting Your Brew Parameters

While single-origin espresso has a huge potential, it may need some adjustments in the brewing process. Because of their unique and sometimes extreme flavour characteristics, it can be a good idea to tweak your espresso recipe if you're dialling in single-origin beans. A few things you might want to consider:

1. Lower Dose: Unlike traditional espresso blends, single origins can be intense and complex. Lowering the dose slightly (e.g., 17g instead of 18g in a standard basket) can help mellow any overpowering acidity.

2. Longer Ratio: Instead of a classic 1:2 ratio (e.g., 18g in, 36g out), experimenting with a 1:2.5 or even 1:3 ratio can help make the extraction longer and highlight more sweetness and balance.

3. Lower Brew Temperature: Lighter roasted single origins may brew better at a lower extraction temperature (88–92°C). This will help to reduce sharp acidity and prevent harshness.

4. Pre-Infusion: Allowing a short pre-infusion of 5–7 seconds can lead to a more even extraction, helping to round out the flavour profile.

The Magic of Milk and Single Origin Espresso

Most espresso drinkers enjoy their coffee with milk. And while some think you should be punished hard if you're adding milk to a single origin, serving it as a milky coffee gives you an exciting opportunity to explore new and unexpected flavour combinations.

• Bright and Fruity Flavour Profiles: These often pair incredibly well with milk, producing surprising notes that makes you think of berry milkshakes or fruit-infused chocolates. As an example, if you're adding Sironko, which has tasting notes of strawberry compote, to your latte you almost get a strawberry milkshake.

• Nutty and Chocolatey Coffees: These provide a more traditional and comforting flavour profile in milk, amplifying the creamy, caramel-like textures in a flat white or cappuccino. Santa Irene is a great way to take your milky coffees to the next level. While it has classic notes of chocolate and hazelnut but the raspberry you will also find in this coffee will add a nice brightness to your espresso.

• Exotic and Experimental Origins and Varieties: With some of the world’s rarest and most sought-after beans, adding milk can create an ultra-luxurious experience, reminiscent of spiced lattes, floral desserts, or even tropical fruit creams.

One of the fun things with using single-origin coffee for espresso-based milk drinks is the unpredictability and discovery. Where a blend might offer consistency, a single origin can provide an entirely new experience in every cup.

Breaking the Stereotype: Single Origin for Every Brew

Traditionally, specialty coffee culture has placed single origins in the filter category and blends in the espresso category. But the industry is shifting. More coffee lovers and professionals are opening up to using single-origin espresso, not only as a way to showcase a coffee’s full potential but also to explore its versatility.

So, next time you come across a beautiful single-origin coffee, don’t limit it to just filter brewing. Brewing single-origin coffee as espresso is an experience worth exploring. It intensifies flavours, reveals unexpected notes, and transforms your regular milk-based drinks into something extraordinary.

Specialty coffee is all about discovery, and challenging traditional brewing conventions is part of the journey. Try your next single origin as an espresso, adjust your parameters, and discover a whole new dimension of flavour. So, think again before assuming that single origins are just for filter - your next mind-blowing espresso might just be waiting in that bag of beans.

Ready to explore single-origin espressos? Check out our full list of single origins.