Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Coffee Roaster’s Journal Making the world of coffee more accessible ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [City of Saints’ Jim Osborn Talks Acidity and Blends](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/city-saints-roasters/) - Meeting up with City of Saints Head Roaster Jim Osborn recently, two trends, due for some consideration, were top of mind: the widespread celebration of, if not obsession with, acidity; and the bit of condescension sometimes directed at coffee blends. Osborn, sitting in a sunny window at the City of Saints café near Manhattan’s Astor Place, grinned. “You could almost do… - [Building a Single Origin Blend](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/building-single-origin-blend/) - by Rich Futrell (Wait…Single Origin Blend?) The popularity of blends in the coffee industry has come and gone and come back again. Blends have their rightful place in any roaster’s catalog, as they provide roasters with an opportunity to present a consistent product to wholesale and retail customers who are looking for a good cup of coffee that they can… - [Deep Dive: The SCA Coffee Flavor Wheel](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/deep-dive-the-sca-coffee-tasters-flavor-wheel/) - The SCA Coffee Flavor Wheel is an important training and communication tool. It provides a comprehensive guide to the diverse and intricate world of coffee flavors. At Genuine Origin and in the cupping rooms of our sister companies at origins around the world, the flavor wheel is a colorful reminder of the flavor potential that our coffees can express. This blog… - [AeroPress 101: Your Ultimate Guide to Brewing Delicious Coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-gear/aeropress-101-your-ultimate-guide-to-brewing-delicious-coffee/) - Brew Methods: AeroPress Coffee In our first deep dive into coffee brewing methods, we’re exploring the AeroPress. This flexible, compact coffee brewing device is perfect for both home and travel. At Genuine Origin, we’re big fans of using the AeroPress for our daily filter coffee. Its versatility, ease of use, and accessible price point make it a standout choice. If… - [Coffee Cupping Fundamentals](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/coffee-cupping-fundamentals/) - Coffee Cupping Fundamentals: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Tasting Coffee Like a Pro Getting your start in the world of specialty coffee can feel daunting. Everyone is using coffee jargon, there’s an endless stream of information, and then there are those strange rituals you’ve seen where people gather around a table of steaming cups with spoons at the ready. Maybe you’ve… - [Roasters, Don't Miss Coffee EXPO Houston!](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/events/roasters-dont-miss-coffee-expo-houston/) - EXPO Houston is right around the corner, happening April 25–27, and it’s the ultimate event for coffee professionals. Whether you’re a seasoned show veteran who has been going for years or you are attending for the first time, there’s no better place to connect, learn, and experience the latest innovations in the coffee world. We caught up with the Genuine… - [Genuine Observations at Coffee Expo Houston 2025](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/events/genuine-observations-at-coffee-expo-houston-2025/) - This April 2025, the coffee world descended on Houston, Texas, in a caffeine-fueled storm of excitement and indulgence to attend Coffee EXPO. Over 17,000 attendees from 85 countries got an exclusive look at new tech, rare coffees, and the chance to meet anyone and everyone in the coffee business. Seriously, if you can dream it, it was there. If you’ve… - [World of Coffee San Diego | A Quick Caffeinated Preview](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/events/world-of-coffee-san-diego-a-caffeinated-preview/) - San Diego is about to get over-caffeinated. From April 10–12, thousands of coffee pros will skip the zoo and head to World of Coffee (formerly EXPO). It’s three days of roasters, machines, gear, tastings, competitions, and caffeine‑fueled energy. The show gets set up fast - and disappears even faster - but behind those three days are months of planning. More… - [Genuine Observations from World of Coffee San Diego](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/genuine-observations-from-world-of-coffee-san-diego/) - Every April, the coffee industry descends on a new city, taking over convention halls and caffeinating the local population in the process. This year marked a major milestone: the first U.S. edition of World of Coffee (formerly SCA Expo) was has held in San Diego. From April 10–12, the Genuine Origin team joined the global coffee community at World of… - [Roast Summit Chicago 2026: A Coffee Roaster’s Guide](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/events/roast-summit-chicago-2026-a-coffee-roasters-guide/) - Roast Summit Chicago 2026 brought coffee roasters together for hands-on coffee roasting, green coffee insights, and real-world experience with roasting machines. Last week, Roast Magazine and Diedrich Roasters hosted the annual Roast Summit on May 28–29 at Firedancer Coffee Consultants in Schaumburg, IL, just outside Chicago. The event brought together roasters, green coffee buyers, and industry professionals from across the… - [Best Coffees of 2025](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-news/best-coffees-of-2025/) - The year 2025 will go down in most people’s books as the year coffee prices went through the roof. From port strikes to tariffs to dwindling stocks, much of the coffee industry is walking away from this year bruised and hoping for a brighter 2026. Yet, amidst all the unfavorable headlines, incredible coffees still made their way to our cupping… - [Roast Profiles 101: Everything You Need to Know](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/uncategorized/guide-to-roast-profiles/) - Profiles in Coffee Roasting In the past couple years, we have dedicated much attention on our blog on several heady topics such as green coffee, coffee roasting, and even the gear surrounding all of the different facets of the industry. In an effort to get more granular, this article will take a deeper look at the art of roast profiles.… - [Uganda Coffee Report | Unlocking Coffee Excellence](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-origin-report/uganda-coffee-report-unlocking-coffee-excellence/) - Genuine Origin has been closely following Uganda’s progression as a specialty coffee producer for years. We've done this with the help of our sister company and sourcing partner in the region, Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd. Uganda continues to astound everyone with improvements in cup quality. Moreover, they show determination to create impact on every scale. This includes small and large initiatives… - [Roaster Profile: FLUID Coffee Roasters in Northwest Indiana](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/roaster-profile-fluid-coffee-roasters-indiana/) - I became aware of FLUID Coffee Roasters back in January of 2020, when I was passing through Michigan City, Indiana on my way to pick up a guitar from Craigslist. If you're from the Midwest, everything is driving distance, and exploring the coffee scene in any adventure is a requirement to fuel you. I was still a coffee roaster at… - [Mile High City | The Best Coffee in Denver](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/mile-high-city-the-best-coffee-in-denver/) - Perched a mile above sea level, Denver, Colorado, is often celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes—and its equally breathtaking elevation. But beyond the hiking trails and ski slopes lies a thriving urban culture, fueled by a 20% population surge since 2010. That growth has transformed Denver into a dynamic hub of art, food, and, yes—exceptional coffee. Why Denver Coffee Stands Out… - [Honduras Coffee: A Deep Dive into History, Cultivation, and Flavor](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/honduras-coffee-a-deep-dive-into-history-cultivation-and-flavor/) - Honduras is a burgeoning powerhouse in coffee production. Despite past infrastructure and socioeconomic challenges, entrepreneurial producers are racing to improve quality, innovate processing techniques, and cultivate high-profile Honduras coffee. The Honduras coffee industry is shifting, and many changes are in the producers' favor. With its rich volcanic soils, diverse microclimates, and a tradition of meticulous cultivation, Honduras coffee consistently delivers.… - [The Rise of Robusta: Rethinking Coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-beans/the-rise-of-robusta-rethinking-coffee/) - For most of coffee history, Coffea canephora—better known as Robusta—played second fiddle to Coffea arabica (Arabica coffee), its high-grown cousin. Robusta was largely relegated to the likes of instant coffee and commercial blends, burdened by a reputation for harshness and low quality. But that narrative is shifting. Global coffee production is evolving. So are consumer tastes, roaster preferences, and scientific… - [Should Coffee Shops Go Laptop Free](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-news/should-coffee-shops-go-laptop-free/) - If you walk into a coffee shop in 2025, you’ll likely see a constellation of glowing screens between cappuccinos and croissants. Laptops feel as essential to café culture as baristas - yet owners and guests are asking a pointed question: Should coffee shops go laptop free? From “Cagongjok” to Coffee Campers In South Korea, the phenomenon for decamping to a… - [National Coffee Day | 5 Creative Ways Coffee Roasters Can Celebrate](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/national-coffee-day-5-creative-ways-coffee-roasters-can-celebrate/) - National Coffee Day (Sept 29) - beyond being a made up holiday - is the perfect moment for coffee businesses to connect with their customers, generate buzz, and drive sales. Coffee is hyper-fragmented, so standing out and getting recognized takes consistent marketing. To help you along, we came up with five easy, high-impact ideas you can run with minimal budget… - [Roaster Profile: Peaceful Valley Coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/roaster-profile-peaceful-valley-coffee/) - A typical day at Peaceful Valley Coffee is low-key, but filled with joy and purpose. Bryn Garrehy, Peaceful Valley Coffee's Founder and Roaster, is often processing several orders, roasting coffee and delivering coffee across Spokane, Washington. "I cup three times a week and brew constantly," says Bryn. "When I’m not roasting, I’m planning—more wholesale, pop-ups, admin work. As a solo… - [Tariffs on Coffee: The Situation Has Escalated](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/tariffs-on-coffee-the-situation-has-escalated/) - Shortly after tariffs first landed in early April 2025 with “Liberation Day,” most imports were given a 10% rate. That alone was disruptive—this was the first time in recent memory that U.S. coffee imports were hit with tariffs. The shock was immediate, the questions were many, and the impact was felt across the specialty coffee supply chain. Four months later,… - [The Roasters' Guide to Coffee Certifications](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/the-roasters-guide-to-coffee-certifications/) - In recent years, consumer demand for more sustainable coffee and traceability has sky-rocketed. People look to certified coffees for sustainability and ethical practices in farming and in business. For coffee drinkers, certified coffees have gone from a niche preference to a defining market force. Today’s coffee drinkers—especially younger and more values-conscious consumers—are looking beyond origin and roast level. They’re paying… - [Coffee Events Calendar](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/uncategorized/coffee-events-calendar-draft-2/) - Jump to your month: January 2025 Events | February 2025 Events | March 2025 Events | April 2025 Events | May 2025 Events | June 2025 Events | July 2025 Events | August 2025 Events | September 2025 Events Coffee Event Calendar | January 2025 January 18-22: Sigep [Rimini, Italy] “Sigep, the world´s leading Italian gelato fair, is stretching its… - [Roaster Profile: SW Grilled Coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/roaster-confidential-sw-grilled-coffee/) - Grilled Coffee Aboard the Coffee Caboose! Taylor Kirkman and Steven Leganski, owners of SW Grilled Coffee, are making their mark on the Phoenix coffee roasting scene with their mobile coffee bar and grill-roasted coffee business. In addition to maximizing flavor, the entrepreneurs are also dedicated to energy efficiency. In every step, they are trying to minimize waste and contribute to… - [How to Brew Coffee: Gear and Methods for Roasters](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-life/how-to-brew-coffee-gear-and-methods-for-roasters/) - Although we specialize in making green coffee buying easy, people often ask us how to make coffee taste great once it's roasted. Basically, you choose a brewing method, ensure that the coffee grind size is right, then drink up! That said, there are many different brewing methods and plenty of vessels available, so it ultimately comes down to preference. You… - [In Costa Rica, It's All About Quality](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/costa-rica-green-coffee/) - Riley Thomson is based in San Jose and, after years in the field as a farmer support technician, now oversees the Volcafe Way Farmer Support Organization (FSO) in Costa Rica—a country he moved to as a boy, from Canada. Riley attended Costa Rica’s prestigious Earth University, which focuses on providing its global student body with sustainable-agriculture expertise they can apply… - [18 Must-Know Green Coffee Terms](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/18-must-know-green-coffee-terms/) - Buying specialty green coffee with Genuine Origin is straightforward and simple — our prices are transparent, our Q-graders give us flavor notes and scores, shipping is always FREE, and the quality is there — but coffee terminology can be downright confusing sometimes. If you’ve ever come across something you’d like to understand better, we’re here to help. In the meantime,… - [Coffee Events Calendar](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/uncategorized/coffee-events-calendar/) - Coffee Event Calendar | January 2025 January 18-22: Sigep [Rimini, Italy] “Sigep, the world´s leading Italian gelato fair, is stretching its international reach and broadening its horizons towards the pizza universe, an industry which according to the most recent estimates has a global value of over 153 billion dollars. And for the 2025 edition it is giving itself a makeover,… - [Cold Brew and Iced Coffee Revealed](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-gear/cold-brew-and-iced-coffee-revealed/) - How to Make Big Batch Cold Brew Coffee The sun is out. The weather is warm. It’s time to swap out those steaming mugs of filter coffee for a refreshing glass of cold brew on the rocks. Cold brew coffee is one of the easiest beverages to prepare in a big batch for serving summer customers or chugging it all… - [Volcafe Way Report - Making Coffee Producers Profitable](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/volcafeway-report/) - The Volcafe Way is the global farm sustainability arm of Volcafe (Genuine Origin's parent company). With hundreds of field technicians worldwide, Volcafe Way is helping thousands of farmers improve their production and move toward sustainable profitability. In this webinar, Genuine Origin takes an in depth look at the history of Volcafe Way and the results in Volcafe Way's 2019 Annual… - [Women in Coffee: Tanzania Edition](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/women-coffee-tanzania/) - When women are involved — particularly, when women are board members or are in leadership roles, and especially when there are at least three of them — companies do better. They make more money, produce better products and they’re better places to work. A growing body of data has proven this out. In coffee communities in Tanzania and elsewhere, our farmer support teams have likewise… - [What's a Microlot?](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/microlots/) - There are some pretty flexible definitions in coffee, and microlots and macrolots (or community lots, as we refer to them) are among the terms that differ, depending on whom you ask. It’s easier to start with microlot. Coffee Shrub has defined it as “a lot produced separately, discretely picked or processed to have special character.” Similarly, The Roasterie blog uses… - [Volcafe Way Grows in Africa](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/volcafe-way-grows-africa/) - “Profitability is good to chase, but hard to achieve,” Elizabeth Mbau said back in May, on a call from Costa Rica. In April, Mbau joined our team as the Africa coordinator for Volcafe Way, bringing with her experience from Technoserve, where she monitored a coffee initiative in Kenya; the Rainforest Alliance, where she oversaw the impact of a certification program… - [Sample Roasting: A Direct-Trade Roaster’s Perspective](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/bonlife-coffee-roasters/) - Jeremy Moore says he found his taste for coffee following his parents around the coffee shops of Europe. Much later, he and his wife Erika turned their shared love of coffee into a wholesale roasting business and later also cafes. The guiding idea behind both enterprises is that it's not enough to just serve good coffee or do a good… - [Lightwave Coffee Roasters Is on a Journey](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/lightwave-coffee-roasters/) - “I knew I wanted to be in the hospitality industry, I just wasn’t quite sure how,” says Joy Park, owner of Elabrew Coffee and Lightwave Coffee Roasters in Los Angeles. “As corny as it sounds, I love serving people. If you take a moment to feel what it feels like to make someone’s day. I love it.” Park went through the… - [In Ethiopia, a Reputation for Quality](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/ethiopia-bruck-fikru/) - As coffees from Ethiopia arrive in the store — three washed and three natural — our head of content spoke with Bruck Fikru, general manager of Volcafe’s operation in Addis Ababa (Volcafe is Genuine Origin’s parent company). They discussed both how coffee works in Ethiopia and how — though there isn’t yet a Volcafe Way team in place there, due to the… - [Guatemala La Morena Is Women's Work](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/guatemala-la-morena/) - “I got in touch with the IWCA chapter here in Guatemala, called Mujeres en Café, and I started talking to Celeste Fumagalli, who was then the president. We started talking, and we arranged a field trip for all the producers to learn about the Volcafe Way.” Maria Renee Morales, assistant manager at Peter Schoenfeld, GO’s sister company in Guatemala, recently… - [Frequently Asked Questions: Answered!](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/frequently-asked-questions/) - What is a box of green coffee? We sell green coffee in 65-lb, GrainPro-lined cardboard boxes with handles, to make green coffee easier to move, store and stack. The boxes are packed and sealed immediately after processing and, stateside, are stored in a temperature controlled, food-grade warehouse in Pennsylvania. How does shipping work? Sample orders, and orders of 9 boxes or fewer,… - [Fourth-Wave Coffee Will Break All the Barriers](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-news/emily-smith/) - Emily Smith spent several years as a quality-control manager for a large specialty roaster in Washington State before becoming an independent consultant to smaller roasters, helping them to build greens portfolios, explore purchasing options and make better decisions around pricing and logistics. Perhaps inevitably, she’s now also roasting herself, and with a partner will soon launch a brand under a… - [Cupping Coffee Hybrids with World Coffee Reseach](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/world-coffee-research/) - By Jen Hurd World Coffee Research (WCR) recently hosted a lecture and tasting around its new F1 coffee hybrid varieties at the Buckman Coffee Factory in Portland, Oregon. As someone who’s always loved Punnett squares, I was very excited to learn more about the type of research being conducted and to get a better understanding of what the future holds. WCR… - [Coffee Questionnaire: Nairobi, Kenya](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/dirk-kenyan-coffees/) - Dirk Sickmueller, general manager at Taylor Winch Coffee Ltd., GO's sister company in Nairobi, selected our incoming Kenyan coffees. We asked him what to expect, how the harvest was and what his favorites are. Dirk Sickmueller: At Taylor Winch, I work with a team, and our main task is to trade green coffee beans from Kenya. We cup coffees, and I’m at auction every week,… - [Coffee Growing Is Hard. Volcafe Way Is Helping.](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/volcafe-way-victor-hugo/) - Riley Thomson, head of the Volcafe Way program in Costa Rica, spoke recently with Victor Hugo Sanchez Fonseca, a coffee producer in Perez Zeledon, about how coffee growing has changed and why he joined the Volcafe Way program. Good afternoon, Don Victor Hugo. What is the size of your farm? Good afternoon, the size of the farm is 4.5 hectares. I currently have coffee… - [Honduras Coffee Origin Report 2020](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/honduras-coffee-origin-report-2020/) - Honduras is a small Central American country with its share of problems. The World Bank estimates that in rural areas 20% of Hondurans earn less than $1.90 per day. Country-wide, roads are sub-optimal; many Honduras coffee farms are accessible only via dirt roads that snake up along mountainsides. Despite these factors, entrepreneurial specialty coffee producers in Honduras are working toward… - [Green Coffee Mill in Jaén Celebrates Its First Birthday](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/peru-green-coffee-mill-anniversary/) - Procesadora del Sur, Genuine Origin's sister company in Peru, is celebrating the first anniversary of its new green coffee mill in Jaén, in the Cajamarca coffee region in northern Peru. The dry mill processes coffee for thousands of individual producers. At full capacity the mill can turn out nearly 7000 bags of green coffee beans per week. We talked to Javier Chávez (pictured… - [Green Coffee Prices | A Beginners Guide](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/green-coffee-prices-a-beginners-guide/) - The price of Green Coffee generally gravitates around the regulated futures exchanges which, for both Arabica and Robusta, used to operate with real-live humans in New York and London respectively but now exist virtually! Arabica prices are quoted in US cents/lb and the standard contract refers to 37500 lbs of exchange certified arabica coffee (or 283.5 bags of 60 kg). Robusta prices are… - [Understanding C-Market Price Swings and the Brazil Frost](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/c-market-price-swings-green-coffee-and-frost/) - In late July a severe frost hit Brazil's coffee growing regions. Most affected were South de Minas and Parana. Yet another cold front hit the following week. These events caused extreme C-Market price gyrations — the coffee futures market - , affecting green coffee prices. The market roared up past 200 cts/lb, but has since dropped back down to 174.60… - [Guatemala Green Coffee Origin Report 2021](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/guatemala-green-coffee-origin-report-2021/) - Patios drying coffee Guatemala The 2021 harvest season in Guatemala came to a close earlier this year with some hurricane-induced delays, but also with exciting improvements in yield and cup quality. We received an update from our sister company, Volcafe Guatemala, about what they’ve been experiencing on the ground recently. Guatemala Green Coffee Harvest 2021 Last year, Guatemala was hit by… - [Tanzania Green Coffee Origin Report](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/tanzania-green-coffee-origin-report/) - Tanzania is one of the largest countries in Africa by area and Arabica coffee production is around 650,000 bags (over 85 million pounds) per year - as much as its better-known neighbor, Kenya. However, the Tanzania has long been in the shadow of the countries it borders. In the past, Tanzania coffee was collectively branded as “Kilimanjaro coffee” abroad, regardless of… - [Costa Rica Green Coffee Origin Report](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/costa-rica-green-coffee-origin-report/) - Few coffee-producing countries go the extra mile to protect their agricultural workforce like Costa Rica does. After a violent civil war in 1948, the newly-formed Constitutional Assembly abolished the military. This move reallocated Costa Rica’s budget to medical care and education, propelling the country into a period of peace and growth to this day. “Costa Rica had a solidified universal… - [How to Buy Green Coffee Forward](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/how-to-buy-green-coffee-forward/) - Opening a coffee roasting business is exciting — you get to experiment with different roast profiles to create your own coffee flavors, and you have complete control over the green coffee you want to work with. If you’ve ever fallen in love with an origin or producing region and wanted to share their coffee with the world, as a roaster,… - [Green Coffee Sourcing Explained](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/green-coffee-sourcing-explained/) - Demystifying Green Coffee Sourcing from Origin to Roastery As a two hundred year old, traditional supply chain company, Volcafe had no public face. However, its business was based on hundreds of thousands of face-to-face relationships. At origins around the world, Volcafe field teams worked with vast networks of farmers, in order to source coffee and make coffee farming sustainable. With… - [The Price of Green Coffee | Explaining the Increase to Customers](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/price-of-green-coffee-explaining-the-increase/) - As the C market rises, so does the price of green coffee. In December 2021, the C-market price for coffee hit a 10-year high – and there’s still room to surge even steeper. As a result, roasters and green coffee buyers now face difficult decisions on mitigating the rising costs. Ultimately, increasing the price of a cup of coffee for… - [Genuine Origin Schedule of Events Coffee EXPO 2023](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/genuine-origin-schedule-of-events-coffee-expo-2023/) - Genuine Origin EXPO Booth 2458 | Schedule of Events Download the full schedule EXPO kicks off on Friday, April 21, 2023 and we've got an amazing line up of roasters brewing and speakers from our global teams. So, drop by the GO Booth 2458 to meet the team, drink some GO coffees & get the lowdown from our people on the… - [The Complete Guide to Coffee Filters](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-gear/the-complete-guide-to-coffee-filters/) - Coffee filters come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. There are nearly as many types of coffee filters as there are coffee brewing devices. So many, in fact, it can be overwhelming to filter through all the options. We’ve compiled this handy guide to determine what type of coffee filter is the best for your brewing method. That way, you… - [Coffee EXPO 2023 Review](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/coffee-expo-2023-review-coffee-friends-fun/) - We were all super-excited to arrive in Portland for EXPO this past April. Right after check-in, we went straight to the conference center to build out our booth. Every exhibitor was busily constructing their booth in anticipation of the deluge of coffee lovers that were about to descend on Portland. We were thrilled because our program of roasters and speakers… - [Guatemala | Coffee Origin Report](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/guatemala-coffee-origin-report/) - With it rich volcanic soil, mountainous terrain and varied micro-climates, Guatemala is a perfect country for coffee cultivation. Guatemalan green coffee beans are the delight of roasters and coffee drinkers alike. With its wide array of growing regions Guatemala encourages a diverse range of outstanding flavor profiles. Together with our in-country sister company, we’re proud to source some of the… - [Brazilian Coffee | Origin Update 2023](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/brazilian-coffee-origin-update-2023/) - It’s hard to summarize an origin country like Brazil and its vast role in coffee’s past, present, and future. Since the 1800s, Brazilian coffee has dominated the coffee trade. Brazil has been a top producer of Arabica and Robusta with an immense range of flavor profiles and processing methods. And every harvest, we bring coffee roasters fully traceable unroasted Brazilian… - [So, You’re Getting Into Coffee Roasting](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/so-youre-getting-into-coffee-roasting/) - So, you’re getting into roasting your own coffee? Starting a new hobby like coffee roasting can be exciting, but can easily get overwhelming. With an endless amount of information, products, and opinions available online, it’s easy to feel lost. However, depending on your personality, this can be an exciting adventure of learning, experimenting, and fine-tuning your craft—or a never-ending quest… - [Colombia Coffee Origin Report 2023](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/colombia-coffee-origin-report-2023/) - Over half a million families dedicate their livelihoods to producing unroasted Colombia green coffee on small farms that dot the country’s volcanic mountain ranges. As the world’s third-largest producing country, the volume, quality, and variety that comes out of Colombia year-round is staggering. Coffee from Colombia is never dull, and we look forward to every harvest with eager anticipation. Colombian… - [How to Grow Your Own Coffee at Home](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-gear/how-to-grow-your-own-coffee-at-home/) - In this post we explore the exciting possibility of growing coffee in the comfort of your own home. Yes, you read that correctly – you can have your very own coffee plant flourishing within your four walls! You probably don't have the acreage to have a robust coffee harvest and this will definitely be a years-long project if you want… - [Costa Rican Coffee Origin Report 2023](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/costa-rican-coffee-origin-report-2023/) - Coffee in Costa Rica is as advanced as it gets. Smallholders here are highly motivated to keep Costa Rican coffee on the map for innovation, diversification, and a reputation for premium quality. They pay extensive attention to technical advancement, particularly in agriculture and coffee processing, and farmers don’t hesitate to experiment with new varietals and fermentation techniques. With Costa Rica’s… - [How to Roast Coffee Beans at Home](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/how-to-roast-coffee-beans-at-home/) - How to Roast Coffee Beans I started out in coffee in the mid-2010s as a barista at the only third wave cafe in my area. My first job roasting was a couple years later with Strange Brew Cafe + Roaster in Palos Hills, IL. We started a roasting program out of both necessity and curiosity. I learned as much as… - [Coffee Varieties Quick Start Guide](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/coffee-varieties-quick-start-guide/) - Coffee is part of a complex family tree. Thanks to agricultural intervention, producers and researchers have added even more branches to a never-ending genealogy of coffee varieties and coffee cultivars. Biologically speaking, it all starts with the Rubiaceae shrub family, from which we get the Coffea genus. The most common coffee species that people drink every day are Coffea arabica… - [Nicaraguan Coffee Origin Report 2023](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/nicaraguan-coffee-origin-report-2023/) - Nicaragua pulses as the largest country in the heart of Central America. Here, coffee continues to surpass all expectations, despite the political unrest, natural disasters, and warfare that hinder progress. Geographical advantages, innovation, and the remarkable resilience of enterprising producers are putting Nicaragua back on the map for its potential as a specialty-coffee country. Genuine Origin is excited to be… - [The Best Coffees for Espresso](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/the-best-coffees-for-espresso/) - Espresso has been around for over 100 years now and its popularity only appears to be increasing. According to the National Coffee Association of America, the consumption of espresso-based beverages has gone up by 50% in the past eight years. There’s also a burgeoning market for home espresso hobbyists, who are willing to spend significant sums of money on their… - [El Salvador Coffee Origin Report 2023](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/el-salvador-coffee-origin-report-2023/) - Big things come in small packages. In El Salvador’s case, this modest-sized country has made a name for itself regarding its green coffee. Despite its turbulent history, El Salvador coffee enjoys a reputation for quality over quantity. This may be the key to the country’s future as a celebrated coffee origin. Drying green coffee on raised beds in El Salvador… - [Ethiopian Coffee | The Complete Guide to the Birthplace Coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/ethiopian-coffee-a-complete-guide-to-the-birthplace-of-coffee/) - Ethiopian coffee is cherished by coffee roasters and coffee drinkers across the globe, and for good reason! Ethiopia is widely recognized as the birthplace of coffee. The storied coffee origin even has its own coffee legends and mythology. While Ethiopia only produces 3-4% of the world’s coffee supply, it has an outsized reputation. The variety and character of the coffee… - [The Best Gift Coffees for Coffee Roasters](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-gear/the-best-gift-coffees-for-coffee-roasters/) - When it comes to the holiday season, people get laser-focused on gift-giving. What do you choose for someone whose heart beats to the rhythm of a coffee grinder or for your friends and family that would never wake up if not for our favorite beverage? First and foremost, the gift of choice is going to be high-quality coffee beans. Coffee… - [Indonesian Coffee | A History of Unique Flavor](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/indonesian-coffee-a-history-of-unique-flavor/) - The taste of Indonesian coffee evokes unmistakably rich and intense flavor experiences that are distinctive to this historically significant coffee region. The traditional Giling Basah, or wet-hulled, coffee process is a big part of Indonesian green coffee flavor profiles. However, innovative farmers are trying new things. They are adopting new production methods, aiming to diversify and introduce more options for… - [Coffee Supply Chain Report | January 2025](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-supply-chain/coffee-supply-chain-logistics-report-january-2025/) - Navigating Coffee Logistics in 2024: Insights from Juan Alvarez, Director of Logistics at Genuine Origin As we dive into 2025, it’s worth reflecting on the logistical challenges that shaped the coffee supply chain in 2024. From infrastructure bottlenecks to weather disruptions, the coffee industry faced an array of obstacles. We sat down with Juan Alvarez, Director of Logistics at Genuine… - [Coffee Events Calendar - Draft](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/events/coffee-events-calendar-draft/) - Jump to your month: January 2025 Events | February 2025 Events | March 2025 Events | April 2025 Events | May 2025 Events | June 2025 Events | July 2025 Events | August 2025 Events | September 2025 Events Coffee Event Calendar | January 2025 January 18-22: Sigep [Rimini, Italy] “Sigep, the world´s leading Italian gelato fair, is stretching its… - [Coffee Market Update: Understanding Price & Fundamentals](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-buying/coffee-market-update-understanding-price-fundamentals/) - The coffee market is currently navigating unprecedented price levels, with the C market over $4.00 per pound. This surge is driven primarily by concerns over supply shortages in Brazil and Vietnam, two of the world’s largest coffee-producing countries. While we’ve worked hard to keep our prices stable, Genuine Origin’s pricing follows market trends because we base our costs on replacement… - [Roasting and Sourcing for Profile](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/uncategorized/roasting-and-sourcing-for-profile/) - Adapting to Change in Coffee One of the great challenges in roasting coffee is consistency. But consistency can mean many things—variance from roast to roast, a machine with a mind of its own, the coffee itself, and countless other factors. Coffee is ever-changing. It’s a crop, impacted by weather patterns and subject to good and bad seasons. Even if the… - [How to Talk to Customers About Rising Coffee Prices](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-buying/how-to-talk-to-customers-about-rising-coffee-prices/) - The coffee industry is experiencing a perfect storm of market forces, with Arabica prices soaring over $4.00 per pound—a historic high. Severe drought in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, and extreme rains in Vietnam, the second largest, are significantly reducing global supply. Farmers are withholding coffee in response to these conditions, further tightening availability. On top of that, tariffs… - [Coffee Prices Surge...Again](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-buying/coffee-prices-surge-again/) - This week the coffee market continued its wild ride, and roasters who’ve been waiting for a steep market decline may be in for a tough lesson. In late February, prices dipped below $3.80. The price drop offered a glimmer of hope to roasters holding out for a strong decline. But, March roared in and prices soared, fueled by concerns over… - [EXPO Houston Schedule](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/uncategorized/expo-houston-schedule/) - Are you going to EXPO in Houston this April 25 - 27? We sure are! Be sure to stop by our Booth #1331 and meet the Genuine Origin team. We'll be serving up some of the finest GO coffees, roasted & brewed by incredible roasters. Need a reason to attend? Well, we've got plenty. If you've ever been to EXPO, then you know… - [Making Sense of Tariffs on Coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-buying/making-sense-of-tariffs-on-coffee/) - Tariffs on Coffee: A Guide for Roasters, Retailers, and Curious Consumers In early April 2025, U.S. coffee importers received a rude awakening: for the first time in recent memory, we were slapped with tariffs on coffee. Specialty importers, roasters, and customers alike have raised big questions—and we’re here to help clarify what’s happening, who it impacts, and what we’re doing… - [The Ultimate Guide to Coffee Grind Size](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/the-ultimate-guide-to-coffee-grind-size/) - If your coffee tastes off—too bitter, too weak, or just flat—the culprit could be the coffee grind size. The grind size directly affects extraction, flavor, and even the mouthfeel of your brew. Getting the coffee grind size right is essential whether you're brewing at home or running a busy café. Why Your Coffee Grind Size Matters Brewing coffee is a… - [Big Strides in Sustainable Coffee | Future-Proofing Our Favorite Brew](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/uncategorized/big-strides-in-sustainable-coffee/) - If you’ve roasted or even sipped a cup of coffee today, you’ve taken part in a global chain that’s under serious pressure—and serious transformation. Climate change is hitting coffee hard, but the fight for sustainable coffee is underway and it’s gaining traction! From seed to cup, a diverse mix of actors including scientists, farmers, corporations, and NGOs are rewriting coffee’s… - [What is Decaf Coffee? A Guide to Decaffeination](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/what-is-decaf-coffee-a-guide-to-decaffeination/) - What is decaf coffee? Simply put, decaffeinated coffee is coffee that has had most of its caffeine removed. For many, caffeine is the main reason they drink coffee—but for others, it can cause jitters, disrupt sleep, or trigger other sensitivities. That’s where decaf coffee comes in. While your typical 8oz cup of coffee contains anywhere from 50 to 160 milligrams… - [Roaster Profile: Milestone Coffee Roasting & Café](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/roaster-profile-milestone-coffee-roasting-cafe/) - Roaster Profile: Milestone Coffee Roasting & Café Location: Montrose, Pennsylvania Founder and Roast Master: Matt Ford GO Customer Since 2023 From humble beginnings to a bustling café in the heart of Montrose, Pennsylvania, Milestone Coffee Roasting & Café is rooted in passion, persistence, and a powerful metaphor: chasing milestones. Tatyana and Matthew Ford with Milestone Coffee Roasting bag Matt Ford… - [Encouraging Uganda's Best Cup](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/kyagalanyi-uganda/) - Coffee is a real opportunity for farmers in Uganda, and with assistance from Volcafe Way Farmer Support Organizations, they’re producing some of the country’s best coffees to date. In this conversation, Anneke Fermont, regional sustainability manager at Kyagalanyi (pronounced CHUG-uh-lani) Coffee, Genuine Origin’s sister organization in Uganda, describes finding meaningful work, efforts to end child labor, and the two carefully… - [From Mbeya to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania's Coffees are Stories of Geography](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/mbeya-tanzania/) - Matthew Harrison has a background in agriculture. And while he’s spent extensive time in the coffee fields, he now lives in the coastal city of Dar es Salaam, focusing on field operations and the trading side of the business for GO sister organization Taylor Winch. Last week, he stepped away from the cupping table to chat about coffee, culture and why there’s… - [Honduras Introduces Fresh Harvests of Guama Danta, Pacavita and Mata de Platano](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/honduras-macrolot-coffees/) - “I find a bit of excitement in telling other people about my country, and letting them know what it is we do here and what Honduras has achieved in the last three or four years,” says Carlos Umanzor, with Genuine Origin sister company Molinos de Honduras (MDH), when asked about his favorite part of his job. “Because, these aren't like other… - [Coffee Questionnaire: Guatemala](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/coffee-questionnaire-guatemala/) - For a week in February, Volcafe Way Farmer Support Organization (FSO) leaders from Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala traveled together, playing host and guest in each other’s countries. They showed off their progress of the last year, considered what they do differently, and looked for successful practices to bring back to their teams. The day after their travels, we caught… - ["I Am Winning." Volcafe Way Conversations, Part 2](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/volcafe-way-farmer-interviews-part-2/) - Riley Thomson, head of the Volcafe Way program in Costa Rica, recently interviewed Carol Mata Gutierrez, a coffee producer in Tarrazú, about how coffee farming has changed — and what she hopes more producers will come to understand. In addition to agronomy strategies, a major focus of Volcafe Way is sharing business best practices with producers — a message that resonates with Carol, who has a… - [Holding Fees, Carry Charges and Other Things We Don’t Do](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/carry-charges-holding-fees/) - Hotels, taxis, groceries — lots of industries have been “disrupted” and are now far more efficient, transparent and user-friendly versions of what came before them. Genuine Origin is a start-up, born from a 200-plus-year-old coffee company, because a handful of folks believed green-coffee buying was aching for disruption — for a far better version of what it's been for centuries. So, 65-lb. boxes a person can lift… - [When #shestheroaster—and the Coffee Producer](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-beans/la-morena-shes-the-roaster/) - Modest Coffee, in Aurora, Ill., has dubbed 2017 the Year of Women. “This year began with women across the country marching against misogyny and inequality and is ending with women personally and publicly speaking out against sexualization and assault,” Modest explains on its web site. “On paper, women may have earned equal rights, but culturally we have a long way… - [Delight in Sugarcane Decaf Coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/delight-sugarcane-decaf-coffee/) - Since the discovery of the decaffeination process in the 1900s by Ludwig Roselius, progress has been made to enhance and preserve coffee’s flavor in addition to removing the caffeine. Approximately 12% of coffee drinkers are sensitive to the effects of caffeine, and these individuals are frequently met with less than delicious decaf coffee. While the average six-ounce cup of coffee… - [La Morena 2018 - Empowering Women Coffee Producers](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/1138-2/) - In 2017 we were determined to help female coffee producers, so we reached out to the International Women’s Coffee Alliance. We invited Women coffee producers who were part of the IWCA in Guatemala to send samples of their best lots and we selected three of our favorites to feature in our inagural offering of La Morena Reserve. They were from… - [Anaerobic Process: New Flavors through Innovation](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/anaerobic-process-new-flavors-innovation/) - Costa Rica has made a name for itself by being at the forefront of innovation in coffee processing methods. Particularly famous for the honey process, producers and mills around the country are enthusiastically pursue innovations that can enhance their coffee’s flavor profile. Recently a new processing method called anaerobic processing has been turning heads, causing cuppers to ask, “What is… - [Papua New Guinea | Green Coffee Origin Report 2022](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/papua-new-guinea-green-coffee-origin-report-2022/) - With around three to four months left until the start of the new harvest, this Papua New Guinea green coffee origin update comes at an excellent time for Genuine Origin and roasters who are planning their 2022 schedules. Our sister company, Volcafe PNG, shares with us how the country is handling COVID-19 and the recent C-market price fluctuations while bringing… - [Are You New to Coffee Roasting?](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/are-you-new-to-coffee-roasting/) - Hey Coffee Roaster, are you getting started with coffee roasting or just new to Genuine Origin (GO — that’s what most roasters call us)? Well first, welcome aboard! We’re so glad you’re here and honored to be part of your coffee journey! We recognize that buying green coffee can be tricky — contracts, origin differences, different qualities, price swings, the… - [Guatemala Coffee Update | February 2022](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/guatemala-coffee-update-2-22/) - We spoke with Volcafe Guatemala, our sister co and Guatemala coffee sourcing team, about how harvest is going. What we learned was that market forces such as the C-Market, the supply chain, inflation and COVID are shaping the season. However, the team is in the field daily, working with producers, and ensuring that GO roasters will have an outstanding line… - [Coffee Processing in Brazil](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/coffee-processing-in-brazil/) - Brazil does just about everything just a bit differently, particularly compared to its coffee-producing neighbors in South and Central America. Coffee processing is unique and uses unique terms; farms are much, much larger, on average; and the stage at which coffee is sold by farmers (as green) is also unusual. With new coffees from Brazil pouring in — a “fully… - [Brazil Green Coffee Update | February 2022](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/brazil-green-coffee-update-2-22/) - Fresh shipments of Brazil green coffee are pouring into Genuine Origin’s warehouses. We caught up with Volcafe Brazil, our sister co, to learn about what's going on with coffee in Brazil after a summer of frost, drought and market turbulence. Frost, drought & future Brazil coffee harvests Last summer, three bouts of frost hit some of Brazil’s most significant coffee-producing… - [Wholesale Coffee Roasting | How to Grow](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/wholesale-coffee-roasting-business/) - Wholesale coffee roasting. For many coffee-roasting businesses and coffee roasters, it’s the plan, the goal, and the key to success in a single phrase. A strong roaster and a few good wholesale clients can catapult a roastery into high speed growth, lower costs through bulk purchasing and increased sales. Genuine Origin works with many small to mid-size coffee roasting businesses.… - [Coffee Supply Chain Briefing | May 2022](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/coffee-supply-chain-briefing/) - The coffee supply chain is still reeling from the shock of COVID and it seems as if geo-political and macro events will make coffee logistics even tougher. Shipping via ocean freight corridors is still a challenge as congestion shifts from port to port in origin countries and the United States. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, new COVID-19 lockdowns in China, trucker… - [Costa Rica Green Coffee Origin Update | May 2022](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/costa-rica-green-coffee-origin-update-5-22/) - Fresh Costa Rica green coffee shipments land at Genuine Origin’s warehouses soon. In preparation for the new arrivals we talked to Volcafe Costa Rica, our sister company, about what’s going on. Our team shared some insights and updated us on what's been happening since last year. Looking Forward to Costa Rica Green Coffee Volcafe Costa Rica is the country’s largest… - [Nicaragua Green Coffee Origin Report 2022](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/nicaragua-green-coffee-origin-report-2022/) - To understand Nicaraguan green coffee, you have to start with Nicaragua’s turbulent political history. Large-scale coffee cultivation began in the mid-1800s, with annual production reaching 150,000 bags in 1900. During the Nicaraguan Revolution that spanned the 1960s to 1990s, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) overthrew the Somoza dictatorship and reformed the country’s cultural and economic development. As part of… - [Best Green Coffee Beans October 2022](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/best-green-coffee-beans-10-22/) - Best Green Coffee Beans October 2022 What are our best green coffee beans right now? Good question. We are constantly sourcing new coffees from our sister companies and partners at origin and everyone’s tastes are different. We asked our team which unroasted green coffees they recommend coffee roasters stock up on. They gave us their favorites and also threw in… - [How to Start Buying Green Coffee Beans Effortlessly](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/how-to-start-buying-green-coffee-beans-effortlessly/) - Buying Wholesale Green Coffee Beans: How to Get Started Whether you’re starting a coffee roasting business and roast green coffee beans professionally or coffee roasting is your side hustle, you'll need to buy green coffee beans. Here’s some good news: getting started doesn’t have to be difficult. When the time comes to start roasting, you’ll need to buy unroasted coffee.… - [The Best Green Coffee Beans in 2022](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/the-best-green-coffee-beans-in-2022/) - What were the best green coffee beans in 2022? As the end of an impressive year approaches, we rounded up some of our team’s absolute favorite unroasted green coffee beans and roasted coffees from 2022. Genuine Origin is always sourcing new coffees with the help of our sister companies and partners at origin, bringing you the best green coffee beans… - [The Ultimate Guide to Green Coffee Bean Storage](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/the-ultimate-green-coffee-bean-storage/) - Image by Rolbos | Getty Images Signature When green coffee beans are sourced from a reliable importer, it’s safe to assume that they treated and transported the coffee with care, from farm to destination. After that, however, it’s up to the coffee roaster to carry on the mantle of keeping the quality of the unroasted coffee as high as possible… - [How Much Caffeine is in Coffee?](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/how-much-caffeine-is-in-coffee/) - Image by Prarinya Thonghyad from Getty Images How Much Caffeine is in Coffee? It depends. Determining how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. With so many brewing methods and varieties of coffee beans available today, the amount of caffeine in a single serving of brewed coffee can vary far beyond the standard… - [Arabica vs Robusta & More | A Coffee Roaster’s Guide to Coffee Species](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/arabica-vs-robusa-and-more/) - Arabica and robusta coffee beans by Igor Ushakov | Getty Images Arabica vs Robusta, what's the difference? How do they taste? While Arabica and Robusta coffee beans account for around 99% of the world’s coffee production and consumption, it doesn't stop there. Both Arabica and Robusta are species of the Rubiaceae family under the Coffea genus. However, new species are… - [Top 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-news/top-10-health-benefits-of-drinking-coffee/) - The majority of Americans consume coffee - some more than others. Coffee is one of the few substances we habitually consume on a daily basis. Some people even say they can’t live without it. With that kind of consistent intake, you might start looking around for reasons to justify your consumption. Fortunately for you (and by you, we also mean… - [The Most Expensive Coffees in the World](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-beans/worlds-most-expensive-coffees/) - How much are you willing to pay for a cup of coffee? Depending on your daily habits, coffee can either be a morning necessity or a luxury lifestyle. While some may already grumble at the thought of a $5 latte, more and more specialty coffee shops are offering truly exclusive coffees that cost $20-$30 for a single cup. Let’s take… - [The Best Coffees of 2023](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/the-best-coffees-of-2023/) - As the sun sets on the year, we asked our team to look back at the best coffees of 2023. Now, our team drinks a lot of coffee...a whole lotta coffee! So, choosing our favorites was no small task. Added to which, 2023 was a year like no other. On every table, in every bag, across so many roasts, we… - [Peruvian Coffee Demystified: A Complete Origin Report for Coffee Connoisseurs](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/peruvian-coffee-demystified-a-complete-origin-report-for-coffee-connoisseurs/) - Peruvian Coffee does not always get the attention it deserves. The country tends to get overshadowed by its bigger neighbors, Colombia & Brazil. But Peru is a coffee powerhouse in its own right. Peru is the world's 5th largest producer of Arabica coffee and it is gaining in popularity. The thin air, soaring altitudes, and fertile soil throughout Peru come… - [Tanzanian Coffee Revealed | Complex, Rich, and Flavorful](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/tanzanian-coffee-origin-report/) - Coffee production in Tanzania is thriving. As one of the largest countries in Africa, Tanzania produces as much coffee as its better-known neighbor, Kenya. But an ever-changing political climate and trade policy have left Tanzanian coffee in the shadow of the countries it borders. Together with Taylor Winch Tanzania (TWT), Genuine Origin’s sister company, we have been working on strengthening… - [Coffee Events | First Quarter 2024](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/coffee-events-first-quarter-2024/) - Mark your calendars! Here are some coffee events, expos, and competitions you don’t want to miss in the first quarter of 2024. JANUARY January 16-19: [Houston, Texas] US Coffee Championships Qualifiers (Barista, Cup Tasters & Roasters) Coffee people will compete in the Barista, Cup Tasters and Roasters competitions for an opportunity to qualify to compete in the Nationals and may… - [Exploring the Arizona Coffee Scene](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/exploring-the-arizona-coffee-scene/) - When it comes to the world of coffee, Arizona is quietly becoming a powerhouse of high-quality and surprising coffee experiences. Recently, I embarked on a coffee journey through Phoenix, Tucson and surrounding areas. I discovered a wealth of exceptional roasters and passionate coffee enthusiasts. Cyndi introducing the coffees on the table - Pic - Thomas Plets Diverse Coffee Offerings One… - [Uganda Coffee Report 2024 | Unlocking Coffee Excellence](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/uganda-coffee-report-2024-unlocking-coffee-excellence/) - Genuine Origin has been closely following Uganda’s progression as a specialty coffee producer for years. We've done this with the help of our sister company and sourcing partner in the region, Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd. Uganda continues to astound everyone with improvements in cup quality. Moreover, they show determination to create impact on every scale. This includes small and large initiatives… - [Coffee EXPO 2024 | Official GO Brewing Schedule](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/coffee-expo-2024-official-go-brewing-schedule/) - This year we are putting down roots in Roaster Village at Coffee EXPO in Chicago. Roaster Village is a special area of the Coffee EXPO show floor that will enable us to focus in earnest on giving show attendees a taste of the hottest new trends in coffee. Mark your calendars and be sure to swing by Roaster Village… - [Robusta Coffee Report 2024: Your Guide to Robusta - Past, Present & Future](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/robusta-coffee-report-2024-your-guide-to-robusta-past-present-future/) - Robusta coffee is hot. In fact, Robusta coffee beans are selling at a 30 year high, so let's uncover where we are, how we got here and where we're going. Robusta is known for its bold flavor profile and higher caffeine content, holds a significant place in the global coffee market. Its cultivation is primarily concentrated in regions like Vietnam,… - [Coffee Events | Second Quarter 2024](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/events/coffee-events-second-quarter-2024/) - Was it just us, or did the first quarter of 2024 fly by? Here are more coffee events, expos, and competitions for your calendar this spring! It’s also world competition season, so stay tuned for the new 2024 champions and their cutting-edge presentations on the world stages. Img - stocksnap from Pixabay April 2024 Coffee Events 4-6 April: [Amsterdam, The… - [Costa Rica Coffee | Origin Update July 2024](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/costa-rica-coffee-origin-update-july-2024/) - Costa Rica coffee is as advanced as it gets and there are no signs of it slowing down. Costa Rican coffee farmers are poised to take the industry even further down the pathway of experimentation and diversification. Today, Costa Rica's coffee farmers are highly motivated to keep their country on the map. They are fighting to keep Costa Rica's reputation… - [A Quick Guide to Coffee Blends](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/a-quick-guide-to-coffee-blends/) - Coffee Roasters are ever curious about coffee, so the Genuine Origin team is constantly fielding questions. But one topic that comes up often is: blending coffee. Coffee blends have probably been around as long as roasting coffee. Why? Because blending two or more coffees together invites opportunities for self-expression, new flavor combinations, and adds versatility when operating a roastery. As… - [Kenyan Coffee | Origin Report 2024](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-beans/kenyan-coffee-origin-report-2024/) - Kenyan coffee has an impressive reputation – it’s renowned for its quality, its producers are highly attentive to detail when it comes to processing, and, most of all, for its unmistakable, distinctly Kenyan cup profiles. Kenyan coffees are some of the best in the world and Genuine Origin’s diverse selection of unroasted Kenyan coffees spans a variety of regions and… - [Nicaraguan Coffee Update 2024](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/nicaraguan-coffee-update-2024-2/) - Nicaraguan Coffee Production Coffee plays a monumental role in Nicaragua's history and economy. Since the mid-1850s, the government of Nicaragua has been encouraging the establishment of coffee estates. By the early 1990s, coffee plants had occupied more land than any other crop in the country. Decades of political turbulence severely impacted the coffee trade and Nicaragua has spent recent years… - [The Best Coffee Beans of 2024](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/best-green-coffee-beans/the-best-coffee-beans-of-2024/) - A Curated List of Green Coffee and Roasted Coffee Favorites Rounding up the best coffee beans of 2024 wasn’t easy. At Genuine Origin, we drink A LOT of incredible coffee, and narrowing it down was a challenge. The coffees we list below include not only the standout green coffee beans for sale in our store, but also some of the… - [The Coffee Market Is on Edge—Again](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-news/the-coffee-market-is-on-edge-again/) - For many, coffee is a daily ritual. For those in the business, it's a volatile global commodity—and in 2025, it’s proving more unpredictable than ever. Prices are swinging, trade policies are shifting, and supply chains are once again under pressure. After months of relative calm, the coffee market is showing signs of stress that could ripple through every level of… ## Pages - [Homepage](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/) - Coffee 101, Coffee Roasting Coffee Cupping Fundamentals Coffee Cupping Fundamentals: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Tasting Coffee Like a Pro Getting your start in the world of specialty coffee can feel daunting. Everyone is using coffee jargon, there’s an endless stream of information, and then there are those strange rituals you’ve seen where people gather around - [Cookie Policy](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/cookie-policy/) - This notice explains how Volcafe Specialty Coffee and our group companies (company, we, us) uses cookies on our website blog.genuineorigin.com. It explains the types of cookies we use and why, and also how you can change your cookie preferences. You should read this cookie notice alongside our website Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. - [Privacy Policy](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/privacy-policy/) - 1. THIS POLICY 1.1. This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) is issued by E D & F Man Holdings Limited, identified as Controllers in the table in Section 13 below (together, the “Group”, “we”, “us” or “our”), and is addressed to individuals outside our organisation with whom we interact, including visitors to our websites (our “Sites”), customers, - [Terms of use](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/terms-of-use/) - Who we are and how to contact us blog.genuineorigin.com (the “site”) is a site operated by Volcafe Specialty Coffee (“we”, “us”, “our”). You can find our information at the “Company information” page and contact us via the form. Our agreement By using or subscribing to our site you agree to these terms of use. We - [Opt-out preferences](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/opt-out-preferences/) - Region US not activated for cookie-statement. ## Coffee Glossary - [Aeropress](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/aeropress/) - A plastic device for brewing coffee by forcing coffee through a filter with a plunger and tube - [Brokens](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/brokens/) - A secondary defect that describes a breakage in the coffee bean - [Blending]() - The combination of coffee beans from two or more origins to create a flavor profile or balance production costs - [Batch brew](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/batch-brew/) - A coffee brewing method similar in process to the drip method but for larger quantities of coffee. The batch brew method uses a batch brewer ranging in capacity from 1-18 liters, making it ideal for cafes and restaurants. - [Arabica](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/arabica/) - The common name for Coffea arabica which serves as the source for 60%-80% of the world’s coffee - [Anaerobic](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/anaerobic/) - A fermentation process in which coffee cherries are fermented in sealed environments without oxygen, resulting in unique, sometimes intense flavors. - [Agtron® scanner](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/agtron-scanner/) - A spectrophotometer that’s used to measure roast degree using infrared light and assign a number based on how light or dark the coffee was roasted a - [Altitude]() - How high above sea level (measured in meters or “MASL”) a coffee plant is grown - [Affogato](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/affocato/) - Gelato or ice cream (traditionally vanilla) “drowned” with a shot of espresso - [Acidity](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/acidity/) - A positive sensory attribute in coffee, often referring to a coffee's brightness, sparkle, or type of flavors present. - [Water decaf](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/water-decaf/) - Coffee that is decaffeinated non-chemically, using hot water and filters to coax the caffeine out of the coffee’s pores (also known as Swiss or Mountain water method) - [Washed (wet) process](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/washed-wet-process/) - A process that involves removing the pulp and mucilage from coffee cherries before drying the beans, resulting in a clean and consistent flavor. - [V60](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/v60/) - A pour-over coffee brewer created by Hario that features a 60 degree angle and is commonly used in third-wave cafes - [Ripeness and Brix degree](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/ripeness-and-brix-degree/) - Brix degree measures the sugar content in the coffee cherry to indicate optimal harvest time - [Resting](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/resting/) - The process of storing roasted coffee for a period of time before brewing it - [Quakers](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/quakers/) - A secondary defect that describes underripe/undeveloped coffee cherries that result in pale color after roasting - [Pour over](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/pour-over/) - A manual brewing method invented in Germany in 1908 by Amalie Auguste Melitta Bentz that involves pouring water over ground coffee - [Potato taste defect (PTD)](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/potato-taste-defect-ptd/) - A primary defect commonly traced to Central Africa’s Great Lakes region (namely near Lake Kivu) that describes an off-flavor impacting coffee quality. It is most often found in coffees from Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda - [Other Fermentation Processes](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/other-fermentation-processes/) - Alternative or experimental methods used to manipulate the flavor of coffee beans, such as yeast, lactic fermentations, anaerobic, or co-ferments. - [Micro mill](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/micro-mill/) - A coffee processing facility operated by a single farmer or collective of farmers - [Honey process](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/honey-white-yellow-red-black-process/) - A coffee processing method that leaves some amount of mucilage from the coffee cherry on the beans during drying - [Grinder](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/grinder/) - A device that turns whole bean coffee into ground coffee for brewing - [Extraction](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/extract/) - Extraction is the process of dissolving soluble compounds from ground coffee into water - [European Prep (EP or EP Certified Coffee)](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/european-prep-ep-or-ep-certified-coffee/) - A coffee sorting standard that allows for a maximum of 8 primary defects per 300 grams in a screen size of 15+. - [Ethyl acetate](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/ethyl-acetate/) - A naturally derived chemical solvent used in coffee decaffeination. - [Espresso](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/espresso/) - A concentrated form of coffee produced by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee - [Cold brew](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/cold-brew/) - A brewing method that does not require hot water - [Cup Score](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/cup-score/) - A number assigned to communicate a coffee's quality - [Coffee genus and species](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/coffee-genus-and-species/) - The type of coffee plant - [American Prep (AP)](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/american-prep-ap/) - A coffee sorting standard that less strict than European Prep (EP) - [Coffee cherry](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/coffee-cherry/) - The fruit of the coffee plant containing the coffee beans - [Chemex](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/chemex/) - A glass pour-over coffee maker invented by German-American chemist Peter Schlumbohm in 1941. - [Profile]() - A profile in coffee refers to a structured set of parameters that define how a coffee is roasted or brewed to achieve an outcome or to highlight specific attributes in the cup (eg - flavors, acidity, etc.). - [Shade-grown coffee]() - Coffee that is certified as cultivated under tree canopy. Shade-grown coffee ranges in context from rustic to traditional and commercial polyculture, meaning that the growing area may be minimally to significantly cultivated. - [SCA coffee tasting protocol](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/sca-coffee-tasting-protocol/) - The formal way to describe the process of cupping as defined by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). The process involves a series of defined steps (smell, slurp, locate, describe, assess defects, and calculate the score) to assess a coffee’s quality. - [Iced coffee]() - A popular coffee beverage dating back to 1840s Algeria, brewed hot or cold and served over ice or milk. - [SCA Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel]() - The industry standard for describing coffee flavors since its publishing in 1995 by the Specialty Coffee Association. The Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel was built on World Coffee Research’s sensory lexicon and further categorized and visualized in its iconic, colorful wheel design by the SCA. - [Specialty coffee]() - A term coined by Erna Knutsen in 1974 to denote coffee with a cupping quality score of 80 or higher. Within the specialty range are separate designations of Very Good, Excellent, and Outstanding, as well as separate standards for American and European associations (SCAA and SCAE). - [Commercial coffee]() - A term used to denote coffee with a cupping quality score of 60-80 according to the Specialty Coffee Association’s standard form. - [Roaster types]() - Different kinds of roasting machines that range in cost and control. In addition to gas and electric coffee roasters, there are air or fluid bed roasters which can allow for faster, more precise process — ideal for, smaller-batch roasting. - [Roaster parts]() - The components that make up a coffee roaster. Gas and electric roasters share common core parts (drum and drum motor, cooling tray, airflow system, thermocouples/temperature sensors, control panels). Other parts vary by roaster type and model. - [Gassing off]() - Also referred to as “degassing” and “blooming,” gassing off is the process of releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gasses from the coffee beans. The aim is to prevent bubbling during the brewing process which can weaken the final result. - [Brewing methods]() - Different ways that coffee can be transformed from bean to beverage form according to desired strength and flavor. Popular coffee brewing methods include: drip, pour-over, French press, espresso, cold brew, siphon, Chemex, percolator, Moka pot, Kalita Wave, and Clever Dripper. - [Sampling/Cupping]() - The process of evaluating coffee’s flavor, aroma, body, and acidity by brewing a small amount and tasting it according to standardized methods. Roasters rely on sampling or cupping to assess the quality of beans, develop roast profiles, and ensure consistency before launching into full-scale production. - [Caffeine]() - A crystalline compound (C8H10N4O2) and stimulant found in coffee, some teas, and some cocoas. The caffeine content of any coffee depends on the variety, roast, and brewing method. A Robusta coffee bean contains 2.2-2.7% caffeine while Arabica contains 1.2-1.5%. - [Decaffeinating]() - The process of removing caffeine from green, unroasted coffee beans using direct or indirect chemical solvent exposure, liquid carbon dioxide in a high-pressure chamber, or water alone (the Swiss method). - [Methyl chloride]() - An organic compound and common chemical solvent used in coffee decaffeination. - [Drip coffee]() - The most common coffee brewing method — especially at home — that involves heating and pouring water over filtered coffee grounds and draining it into a carafe. Drip coffee is typically made with an automatic drip coffee machine but can also be made with a manual or single-serve drip brewing device. - [Shipping]() - The transportation of coffee from producing countries to consumer markets, typically by sea in large containers, ensuring safe and timely delivery. - [FOB (Free on Board)]() - FOB is an international trade term indicating that the seller (FOB Destination) is responsible for delivering coffee to the shipping vessel, and the buyer (FOB Origin) assumes responsibility once the beans are loaded. - [Nominated]() - Refers to a specific vessel or transport company designated by the buyer or shipper for shipping coffee under agreed contractual terms. - [Afloat]() - Refers to coffee currently in transit (en route from the producer to the roaster or buyer) by sea. Roasters track afloat coffee shipments to anticipate inventory arrival and plan roasting schedules accordingly. - [Customs]() - The government agency responsible for regulating the import and export of goods, including inspecting and clearing coffee shipments. - [Contract]() - A formal agreement between buyer and seller that specifies terms i.e. price, quantity, and delivery conditions for coffee purchases. - [Material release (FOT, ex-warehouse)]() - The permission granted to transfer coffee from a warehouse or shipping point to the buyer, using terms like “Free on Truck” (FOT) or “ex-warehouse" (EXW). - [Payment terms]() - Terms outlining how and when payment for a coffee transaction will be made i.e. cash in advance, letters of credit, or post-shipment credit. - [Pallet]() - A flat, sturdy platform used for stacking and transporting large quantities of coffee bags or boxes, facilitating easier handling. Roasters use pallets to store beans in an efficient and organized way, and to move them around when they need to. - [Full Truckload (FTL)]() - Refers to a shipping method where a truck is filled to capacity with coffee, reducing costs and ensuring fast, direct delivery. - [LTL (Less than Truckload)]() - Often used by smaller roasters, “LTL” refers to a shipping method where smaller quantities of coffee are transported, sharing truck space with other goods. - [Inventory management]() - The process of tracking, storing, and controlling coffee supplies to ensure adequate stock for roasting and sales. - [Full black]() - A primary defect caused by microorganisms that results in an opaque black or dark brown, shriveled and/or deeply cracked bean. - [Partial black]() - A primary defect caused by microorganisms that results in an opaque, partially black or dark brown coffee bean. - [Foreign matter]() - A non-coffee item such as a stick, stone, or nail that can damage the beans, roasting equipment, or cause a health issue for consumers. - [Fungus]() - A primary defect caused by unchecked moisture. Fungal damage presents as powdery yellow to reddish brown spots. Damaged beans can easily spread the fungus to healthy beans. - [Single-origin coffee]() - Coffee that’s traceable to a single source (growing region, farm, or producer). Single-origin coffee comes with known farming practices, flavor profiles, and a lower carbon footprint due to its more direct route from farm to roaster. - [Moisture]() - The presence of liquid. Coffee moisture content is measured and reduced during roasting. Excess moisture buildup at any point from farm to storage requires careful monitoring and management to prevent fungal growth in the product. - [Packaging]() - Refers to the materials and methods used to store and transport coffee beans, protecting them from moisture, light, and air. - [Jute]() - A durable, breathable natural fiber used to make coffee sacks, commonly used for shipping and storing green coffee beans. - [Super Sack]() - A large, industrial-grade bag used for storing and transporting bulk quantities of coffee, often holding hundreds of kilos at a time. - [GrainPro]() - Commercial, hermetically-sealed liner bags used inside jute sacks to protect coffee beans from moisture, pests, and contamination. - [Coffee warehouse]() - A large-scale facility — typically found close to a port — where green coffee beans are stored before being shipped to roasters. - [Certification]() - Refers to the process of verifying that coffee meets certain set standards i.e. organic, Fair Trade, or Rainforest Alliance. Roasters source certified coffees to meet consumer demand for ethical and sustainably produced beans that align to their own values. - [Export]() - The process of shipping coffee from the producing country to the consuming market, typically after dry milling and sorting. - [Density]() - Refers to the weight and compactness of coffee beans, found by dividing their mass in grams by their volume in mL. - [Screen size]() - Refers to the grading of coffee beans by their physical size, typically measured through perforated screens numbered 8-20. - [Defects]() - Flaws in coffee beans caused by disease, poor processing, or environmental damage, contributing to taste and quality. - [Primary green bean defects]() - According to the latest Specialty Coffee Association’s Green Coffee Standard, six flaws (full black bean, full sour bean, dried pod/cherry, fungus damaged bean, foreign matter, and severe insect damage bean) count as Category 1 or primary defects, measured per 350 grams of coffee. - [Secondary green bean defects]() - According to the latest Specialty Coffee Association’s Green Coffee Standard, 10 flaws (partial black bean, partial sour bean, parchment, floater, immature/unripe bean, withered bean, shell, broken/chipped/cut bean, hull/husk, and slight insect damage) count as Category 2 or secondary defects, measured per 350 grams of coffee. - [Insect damage]() - A primary or secondary defect depending on severity. Insect damage is most commonly attributed to the Coffee Borer (Hypothenemus hampei) or Coffee Bean Weevil (Araecerus fasciculatus) and can cause damage ranging from surface irregularities to tunneling holes where the insect entered and exited. - [Full sour]() - A primary defect caused by microbial contamination that results in lighter-weight, yellowish coffee beans with a sour or fermented flavor. The cause is typically an error in harvesting, fermentation, or storage. - [Partial sour]() - A secondary defect caused by microbial contamination that results in partially discolored (yellowish/reddish/brown), lighter-weight coffee beans. Three partial sours equal one full defect per 350 grams. - [Hulling]() - The mechanical process of removing the parchment layer or husk from dried coffee beans, which serves as an important step before roasting. - [Drying]() - The process of reducing moisture content in coffee beans after harvesting and processing, important for long-term storage and quality retention. - [Patio]() - A large, flat outdoor space where coffee beans are spread out under the sun and raked regularly for even drying. - [Raised Beds]() - Elevated platforms used for drying coffee beans that can facilitate better air circulation and more uniform drying compared to patio drying. - [Raking/Turning]() - The manual process of moving coffee beans around during the drying process to ensure evenness and to prevent fermentation or mold growth. - [Farm Gate Price]() - The price paid to coffee farmers for their crop, before transportation, processing, or export costs are added. - [Parchment]() - The papery layer surrounding the coffee bean after the cherry pulp and mucilage are removed, typically removed during hulling. - [Dry Milling]() - The stage before export or roasting during which dried coffee beans are hulled, sorted, and polished. - [Mechanical drying]() - A drying method that involves using machinery instead of the sun to dry coffee beans. Common in regions with high humidity or unreliable weather. - [Microlot or micro lot]() - A small, specialized batch of coffee that can be traced to a specific farm or region, prized for its unique and bold cup profiles. - [Single-farm lot]() - A term used interchangeably with “microlot,” single-farm lot refers to coffee that comes from a specific farm rather than blended from multiple sources. - [Community lot (Macrolot)]() - Coffee beans that represent a flavor profile from a specific region and community of producers. Community lots allow roasters to support smallholder farmers and maintain regional traceability. - [Hand sorting]() - The manual inspection and selection of coffee beans to remove defects, ensuring only high-quality beans are sent to the roaster. - [Machine sorting (Optical sorting)]() - The mechanical process of classifying coffee beans by size, density, and color, ensuring uniformity and consistency before roasting. - [Skin]() - The outermost layer of the coffee cherry that serves to protect the fruit. Also referred to as “parchment,” “silverskin.” - [Seed]() - Referred to interchangeably as the coffee bean, the seed is the core element roasted and ground to make all coffee beverages. - [Peaberry]() - A mutated coffee bean type appearing in about 5%-10% of harvests. Peaberries are only half-pollinated and so they contain one seed inside the cherry instead of two. This produces a smaller, rounder, denser bean that’s noticeably different from the classic flat bean. - [Fermentation]() - The chemical (microbial) process during which sugars in the mucilage of the coffee cherry are broken down, shaping the flavor of the beans. - [Natural (dry) process]() - A process that involves drying coffee cherries with the skin and mucilage still intact, resulting in fruity and complex flavors. - [Semi-washed process]() - A process that involves removing part of the mucilage from the coffee cherry before drying, resulting in beans with characteristics between washed and natural processes. - [Wet-hulled process (giling basah)]() - Wet-hulled processing, common in Indonesia, involves hulling (removing the outer layer of) the coffee while still moist, resulting in beans with earthy, bold flavors. - [Monsooning]() - A coffee processing method most common in India that exposes beans to monsoon winds and moisture, altering their color and flavor profile. - [Carbonic Maceration]() - Carbonic maceration involves fermenting coffee cherries in carbon dioxide-rich environments — similar to winemaking — resulting in fruity and floral flavor profiles. - [Co-ferment]() - A process in which coffee cherries are fermented along with other fruits, spices, or ingredients, resulting in distinct and deliberate flavors. - [Equator]() - The invisible line at 0 degrees latitude that divides Earth into the northern and southern hemispheres, near which many top coffee-growing regions exist. - [Origin]() - Refers to the geographic location where coffee beans originated from. Sometimes used interchangeably with “coffee-growing region.” Coffee can be single-origin with multiple more specific distinctions within that category i.e. microlot, estate coffee; it can also be a blend of beans from multiple origins. - [Region]() - A specified area where coffee is grown. Much like a wine region gives winemakers and consumers insight into its flavor potential, a coffee-growing region influences its flavor potential and provides a shorthand for roasting profiles. - [Fertilizer]() - Nutrients added to the soil to produce healthier, higher-yield coffee harvests. Which type of fertilizer is used in coffee planting will impact its certification e,g. Organic. - [Bird-friendly coffee]() - Coffee that is certified as grown in support of natural bird habitats and populations. This certification often goes hand-in-hand with shade-grown. - [Yield]() - The total amount of coffee cherries or beans harvested per tree, plot, or farm (often measured in weight or volume per season). - [Wet mill (factory)]() - For wet-processed or washed processed coffee, the wet mill is the processing destination after harvesting and before export or roasting. Wet mills typically have a coffee pulper to remove the cherry from the seed (or bean), a sieve system, a demucilager, a screw conveyor to transport coffee to the tank for fermentation, and a washer or washing station. - [Floating]() - Led by coffee producers/processors, floating is the process of submerging harvested coffee cherries in water to separate ripe cherries (which sink) from underripe or defective ones (which float — called “floaters” in industry parlance). - [Sorting]() - The post-harvest process of manually or mechanically separating coffee beans by size, weight, and quality to ensure consistency and minimize defects. - [Mucilage]() - The sticky, sugary layer between the pulp and the bean in coffee cherries. - [Racemosa]() - The common name for the Coffea racemosa, a rare and protected species of coffee plant found in East Africa along the coast of the Indian Ocean. Today, there are only two racemosa plantations — one on Ibo Island, Mozambique, and the other in Hluhluwe, South Africa. In the cup, racemosa is known for its low caffeine content with lentil-sized beans and flavors ranging from earthy to herbaceous to citrus. - [Stenophylla Coffee]() - The common name for Coffea stenophylla (also known as “highland” or Sierra Leone coffee due to its southwest African origins), stenophylla coffee was grown and exported to France in the late 19th century but never got the traction Arabica and Robusta did. Stenophylla was “rediscovered” in the wild in 2018, and is considered by some to be a worthwhile investment given the plant’s resistance to the heat brought by climate change. - [Coffee borer]() - The common name for Hypothenemus hampei, the coffee berry borer (CBB) beetle is the number one coffee plant pest in the world, responsible for upward of US$500M in damages annually. Though it originated in Africa, the pest has propagated throughout most of the world’s growing regions and causes coffee berries to drop before they're ripe. - [Disease]() - Like any other crop, coffee plants are susceptible to a range of diseases caused by bacteria and fungi from errors in fertilization, leaf buildup, wind and rain splash, and unaddressed plant damage. Some of the most common are coffee leaf rust, coffee berry disease, coffee wilt disease, and cercospora berry blotch (or brown eye spot). - [Fungus - Coffee Leaf Rust]() - The common name for Hemileia vastatrix, a fungus discovered in the 19th century and one of the most common coffee plant diseases to date. Coffee leaf rust appears displays as yellow, orange, and brown lesions or spots on the leaves of the coffee plant and can be spread by rain, window, people, or animals. - [Hybrid]() - Two distinct varietals of coffee bred to form a single plant containing desired characteristics of each. First-generation (F1) coffee hybrids are being explored for their potential to stand up to climate change, land loss, and pest and disease damage that challenge the future of coffee farming. - [Coffee Picking/Picker]() - The manual or mechanical process of harvesting ripe coffee cherries from coffee trees during the harvest season. - [Variety]() - Refers to the specific subspecies of coffee plant i.e. Arabica, Robusta, Liberica (or specific sub-varieties within these species) that impact flavor and yield. Read our coffee variety quick start guide. - [Cultivar]() - A cultivated coffee plant variety bred for specific traits i.e. disease resistance, flavor profile, or yield. Also referred to as “varietal” or “botanical origin.” - [Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn]() - The area between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn is known as “The Coffee Belt,” where the sun, climate, and altitude are ideal for coffee growing. Tropic of Cancer: The latitude approximately 23 degrees north of the Equator (or northernmost point where the sun can be spotted directly overhead). Tropic of Capricorn: The latitude approximately 23 degrees south of the Equator (or southernmost point where the sun can be spotted directly overhead). - [Coffee farm]() - An area reserved for growing coffee plants and harvesting coffee beans. Agrotourism has also made coffee farm tours a popular activity and revenue stream for coffee producers. - [Coffee farmer]() - A person responsible for the day-to-day, hands-on cultivation of coffee farmland, planting and maintenance of coffee plants, and processing of coffee cherries. - [Coffee producer]() - Though sometimes used interchangeably with “farmer,” a coffee producer typically serves in a supervisory role and can oversee operations at multiple farms from quality control to export logistics. - [Coffee tree]() - Coffee beans come from the coffee tree (or plant, shrub). These trees can grow to a height of 15-20 feet in the wild and live for up to 100 years. - [Robusta]() - The common name for Coffea canephora, which originated in central and western sub-saharan Africa, and which serves as the source for 20%-40% of the world’s coffee, including instant. In the cup, Robusta has about double the caffeine content of Arabica coffee and a full, more bitter taste. - [Liberica]() - The common name for Coffea liberica, which originated in central and western Africa and accounts for less than 2% of coffee on the market. Liberica coffee is characterized by its strong taste and aroma, and has a lower caffeine content than either Arabica or Robusta. - [Eugenioides]() - The common name for Coffea eugenioides, an ancient East African coffee plant believed to have produced the modern Arabica plant. The plant is tricky to grow and produces a small yield. In the cup, eugenioides is distinguished by its low acidity and bitterness, and it can vary greatly in flavor from farm to farm or plot to plot. - [Excelsa coffee]() - A rare, controversial, pest-and-disease-resistant and coffee reclassified as a variety of Liberica in the early 2000s but believed by some to be its own species. Excelsa coffee originated in Central Africa and accounts for only about 1% of the world’s coffee. When roasted with care, Excelsa can offer up notes of peanut butter, cocoa, and dried fruit in the cup. - [Aged Coffee ]() - Coffee that is held in warehouses for several years, sometimes deliberately, sometimes inadvertently. Such aging reduces acidity and increases body. - [Briny]() - The salty sensation caused by excessive heat when coffee has been left on the warming element too long after brewing, e.g., truck-stop coffee. - [American Roast]() - Also known as a "City Roast," coffee beans are medium brown and offer full flavor, acidity, and varietal character; the roast style traditionally preferred in the U.S. - [Balance]() - A tasting term applied to a coffee for which no single characteristic overwhelms the others, yet the coffee displays sufficient complexity to be interesting. - [Barista]() - Italian term for a skilled, experienced espresso bar operator. ## Events - [Dallas Cupping](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-event/dallas-cupping/) - Meet our experts and taste the classics as well as our latest farm to roaster beans. - [World of Coffee San Diego](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-event/world-of-coffee-san-diego/) - Formerly known as Specialty Coffee Expo (or just EXPO), World of Coffee is the ultimate event for the global tea and coffee community, offering unparalleled opportunities for connection, growth, and inspiration. - [Roaster’s Roundtable](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-event/roasters-roundtable/) - This week we’ll discuss flavors from Brazil and welcome new members - [Chicago Coffee Con](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-event/chicago-coffee-con/) - Join us at booth 335 to meet some of our farmers and roasters, ## Categories - [Coffee Gear](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-gear/) - [On Location](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/on-location/) - [Coffee 101](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-101/) - [Coffee Roasting](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-roasting/) - [Green Coffee Beans](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-beans/) - [Events](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/events/) - [Coffee News](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-news/) - [Coffee Glossary](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-glossary/) - [Uncategorized](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/uncategorized/) - [Caffeine](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/caffeine/) - [Coffee Buying](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-buying/) - [Coffee Prices](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-prices/) - [Coffee Processing](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-processing/) - [Coffee Supply Chain](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-supply-chain/) - [Coffee Varieties](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-varieties/) - [General](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/general/) - [Genuine Origin](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/genuine-origin/) - [Green Coffee 101](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-101/) - [Green Coffee Buying](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-buying/) - [Green Coffee Importing](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-importing/) - [Green Coffee Origin Report](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/green-coffee-origin-report/) - [natural process](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/natural-process/) - [Single Origin Coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/single-origin-coffee/) - [specialty coffee](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/specialty-coffee/) - [Coffee Life](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/coffee-life/) - [Kenya](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/kenya/) - [Tasting Notes](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/tasting-notes/) - [Best Green Coffee Beans](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/best-green-coffee-beans/) - [Brazil](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/brazil/) - [Flavor Notes](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/flavor-notes/) - [Roaster Life](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/roaster-life/) - [Decaffeination](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/decaffeination/) - [Colombia](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/colombia/) - [Ethiopia](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/ethiopia/) - [Guatemala](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/guatemala/) - [Sustainability](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/sustainability/) - [Roasting](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/roasting/) - [Travel](https://blog.genuineorigin.com/travel/)