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Masters

Taste & Learn: Single-Origin Coffee

Feature: Long Read
Words by Bridie Newman

We know a thing or two about coffee. We’ve been supplying the world’s finest varieties for over 165 years and we roast more than a thousand kilos at Harrods a week. If you’ve an avid coffee drinker, our coffee guide will take you through the basics but if it’s a deeper understanding of flavour profiles and their origins you’re interested in, you’ve come to the right place. Our coffee buyer Yousef Serroukh gives us the lowdown on what makes single-origin coffee so special.

Barista making coffee

What does single origin mean in coffee?

Single origin is all about the coffee’s traceability. The meaning is often simplified to describe the country a coffee has come from but it’s a lot more specific than that, acknowledging a particular region, farm, or crop. Akin to the concept of terroir in wine, these premium roasts have more nuanced flavour profiles which are indicative of its origin, possessing unique characteristics depending on where and how it was grown and produced.

How does Harrods select its single-origin coffee?

Most of our coffees are house blends purchased via UK wholesalers and some are purchased directly from the source or via auction at the Cup of Excellence. With our premium loose coffees, we select multiple coffee varietals that are grown at varied altitudes with different bean densities. With these variations, each coffee requires specific roast profiles to achieve a balanced expression of flavour.

How does Harrods roast its single-origin coffee?

Roasting coffee is a unique skill that takes years to master. We do not rely on automation for this progress; we control the development of the roast by hand, using our sensory experience to monitor change in colour, aroma and physical change in the bean. The ability to produce accurate roast profiles is key to the consistency of each batch we roast and to ensure this consistency, we taste every batch of coffee for quality before it’s packed for sale.

Types of Single-Origin Coffee

Allow us to take you through the flavour profiles and stories behind the varieties available at Harrods so you can navigate which single-origin coffee is best for you.

Wild Kopi Luwak Coffee
Takengon Sumatra, Indonesia
Wild Kopi Luwak

 

If you consider yourself a coffee aficionado, you’ve probably heard of Kopi Luwak. One of the world’s rarest varieties originating in the Gayo Mountains, coffee cherries are picked and consumed by wild Asian palm civet* at their peak ripeness. The enzymes in the civet’s digestive system percolate the beans, resulting in a smooth, full-bodied coffee that reveals brown sugar and dark chocolate, balanced by blood-orange, spices and hints of guava and papaya.

*No animals are harmed during the production and harvesting of this product. Wild Kopi Luwak coffee beans are sourced from 100% wild animals; our supplier’s specialist team of foragers gather the coffee beans, which are left behind in the forest.

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Jamaican Blue Mountain
Wallenford, Jamaica
Jamaican Blue Mountain

 

High elevations, rich soil and continuous rainfall in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains make the ideal growing conditions for this delicate and balanced coffee. Arriving on the island in 1746, British naval captain Matthew Wallen began cultivating coffee in the area and it continues to be famed today for its authentic nutty flavour with herbal camomile notes, a moderate acidity and a rich, intense aroma.

 

 

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Hacienda La Esmeralda Coffee
Panama Geisha
Hacienda La Esmeralda

 

Grown at over 5,000 ft above sea level in the Jaramillo region of Panama by the Peterson family, the Geisha beans are a multi-award-winning varietal of the world-famous Hacienda La Esmeralda. A testament to its environment, the coffee’s bright, floral aromatics are the result of high altitudes, cooler temperatures, and an abundance of trees for shade. It exhibits a subdued yet intense jasmine aroma with a delicate acidity from notes of citrus and stone fruits.

 

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Brazilian Jacu Bird
Camocim, Brazil
Brazilian Jacu Bird

 

The wild jacu bird has an excellent eye for coffee beans. During the harvest season, they migrate from three of the region’s national state forests to feast on organic Arabica cherries, instinctively selecting the ripest. Foraged from the bird’s odourless droppings, these incredibly rare beans are washed, sorted, and left to dry in the sun on the estate’s suspended terraces. The result? A smooth, sweet and slightly acidic coffee that reveals notes of cinnamon and cracked pepper.

 

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St Helena
Rosemary Gate, St Helena
St Helena

 

If you like your coffee delicate with a rich body and high acidity, you’ll love this green-tipped Bourbon variety – exclusive to Harrods in the UK. Established in 1994, the six-acre Rosemary Gate estate run by Mr and Mrs Bolton produces a limited crop of around 500kg of coffee a year, most of which is sold in its coffee shop on the island with a small amount exported to Harrods. It’s flavour profile is floral and fruity with hints of citrus and caramel.

 

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La Perla Negra
Costa Rica
La Perla Negra

 

Aptly named The Black Pearl, this coffee’s beans are handpicked for their purity. In the luscious foothills of the Poás volcano lies in the Sabanilla de Alajuela region, characterised by its heavy and regular rainfall. The farm produces 100% Arabica coffee and cherries are carefully selected, ensuring only the finest and ripest make it into your cup. Medium-bodied with hints of sweet toffee, blueberry and blackcurrant, it will delight any enthusiast.

 

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Shop All Coffee
Roastery & Bake Hall
Roastery & Bake Hall

 

Fresh coffee beans are prepared daily in the coffee roastery at the heart of the Roastery & Bake Hall. Explore our signature blend, the Knightsbridge Roast, alongside rare and exclusive varieties in-store.

 

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