Coffee Blends: Definition, Types, and Where To Buy

Coffee blends mix beans from various origins to create specific flavors, maintain quality consistency, and provide variety. Popular examples include House Blend Coffee, Breakfast Blend Coffee, and Holiday Blend Coffee. To choose the best blend for your brewing, consider how bean origin, roast level, and grind size interact. The best places to buy coffee blends are specialty coffee shops and online stores. Although sold at a premium, blended coffee remains cheaper than single-origin coffee, which comes from regions like Brazil or Ethiopia and is valued for its unique, seasonal flavors.

What is a Coffee Blend?

A coffee blend is a mixture of two or more different origin coffee beans. Coffee blends combine beans from different origins, such as Colombian and Ethiopian, or regions like Antioquia in Colombia and Harrar in Ethiopia, to create specific flavor profiles. They use beans from different types, like Arabica and Robusta, or cultivars such as Bourbon and SL28.

Coffee blends use various proportions to achieve desired taste profiles or maintain consistency. A blend of 50% Ethiopian Harrar and 50% Sumatran beans roasted to City roast level results in a delicate cup with floral aroma, fruity acidity, and medium-full body. A blend of 50% Harar and 50% Robusta roasted to medium-dark Full City creates a deeper-bodied, earthier cup.

Blending dry and wet processed coffee beans is common and enhances espresso. Dry processed beans contribute to an appealing crema, while wet processed beans add aromatic qualities. For instance, using 40% natural process Brazilian beans boosts body, 40% wet processed Colombian beans enhance crema, and over 20% Costa Rican beans introduce a sharp, citrusy acidity.

The primary goal of coffee blending is to balance unique characteristics such as body, acidity, and aroma that single-origin coffees may not offer alone. Blending coffee creates a consistent flavor profile, which benefits coffee shops and roasters. A coffee blend is an alternative to single-origin coffee.

What are Coffee Blends Used for?

Coffee blends are used for several purposes, such as improving flavor, maintaining consistency, marketing, reducing costs, and altering caffeine levels. Coffee blending is the process of mixing different types of coffee beans to achieve these goals. The following list shows several benefits of coffee blending for both roasters and consumers.

• Improves Flavor Profile: Coffee blending allows roasters to create complex and distinctive flavors that single-origin coffees may not provide. This process combines beans from various origins to highlight their best qualities. Roasters pair coffees that complement one another, such as matching a high-citrus, light-bodied coffee with one that has smooth chocolate notes and a full, velvety mouthfeel. For example, mixing half of the blend with Indonesian beans, such as Sulawesi or Sumatra, helps to improve body and sweetness while maintaining a clean taste. To increase acidity, adding one-fourth of natural-processed Ethiopian coffee is ideal.
• Maintains Consistency: Roasters blend beans to maintain a consistent taste profile year-round, compensating for seasonal changes or variations in crop quality. To provide reliable, consistent coffee year-round, roasters source beans based on location, seasonality, and price. Exclusively offering single-origin coffees would lead to constantly changing selections, appealing to some but not to those who prefer consistency. Flavorful blends made from specialty beans ensure a dependable, enjoyable cup throughout the year, benefiting both drinkers and roasters.
• Marketing: Unique proprietary coffee blends and their names, such as house blends, espresso blends, or cold brew blends, are a key differentiator in a crowded market. These blends help coffee brands market their products effectively, attract customers, and stand out from the competition. Additionally, offering low-acid coffee blends, mushroom coffee blends, or decaf coffee blends appeals to a broader range of tastes and preferences while maintaining competitive pricing.
• Manages Costs: Coffee blends are a strategy to manage costs by balancing pricier, high-quality Arabica with more affordable Robusta beans. This allows roasters to offer more competitive prices or maintain higher profit margins. For example, a more expensive Colombian-based espresso blend delivers a sharper, sweeter flavor but produces less crema, a key characteristic of the drink. Adding a less expensive Robusta to a Colombian blend increases its strength, enhances body, and improves the crema in espresso.
• Modifies Caffeine Levels: Coffee blends can be adjusted for caffeine levels by using specific bean types. For example, adding Robusta beans increases caffeine content, while incorporating Arabica beans decreases it. Caffeine, an alkaloid with physiological effects, allows roasters to customize blends by leveraging the varying caffeine levels in these beans. Robusta naturally contains more caffeine than Arabica. Additionally, blending 50% decaffeinated beans with 50% regular beans creates a half-caffeinated coffee blends.

What are the Different Types of Coffee Blends?

The following list shows some of the popular types of coffee blends and their origins.

1. House Blend Coffee
2. Espresso Blend Coffee
3. Breakfast Blend Coffee
4. Donut Shop Blend Coffee
5. Holiday Blend Coffee
6. Christmas Blend Coffee
7. Hawaiian Blend Coffee
8. Kona Blend Coffee
9. Colombian Blend Coffee
10. Cowboy Blend Coffee
11. Mushroom Blend Coffee

What is House Blend Coffee?

House blend coffee is a balanced, medium to dark roast coffee typically made from a mix of Latin American and East African beans. House blend coffee is a crowd-pleaser, featuring a medium body with notes of nuts and cocoa, providing a mild taste suitable for most palates. While not strong, it maintains a harmonious profile that appeals to a wide audience. The best house blend coffee varies by preference, but popular brands like Starbucks, Peet's Coffee, and online specialty coffee stores like Colipse offer high-quality house blend coffees. Colipse House Blend coffee is a dark "Espresso" roast, ideal for brewing with a French press, espresso machine, Moka pot, or as a cold brew.

What is Espresso Blend Coffee?

Espresso blend coffee refers to a combination of coffee beans selected and roasted to create the best possible espresso. Espresso is brewed by forcing pressurized hot water through finely ground coffee. The goal of the espresso blend coffee is to create a complex and well-rounded espresso shot that balances flavors, body, and aroma for optimal extraction under high pressure. Traditionally, espresso blends use high-quality Brazilian arabicas for body, African coffees for acidity and fruity notes, and high-grown Latin Americans for cleaner acidity. However, there's a growing trend towards using brighter coffees and lighter roasts, such as Blonde espresso blends, which offer a gentler, more acidic flavor profile. While the "best" espresso blend depends on individual preferences, brands like Lavazza and Stumptown offer popular choices. Colipse espresso blends use beans from specialty coffee farms for a smooth flavor, rich aroma, and velvety crema.

What is Breakfast Blend Coffee?

Breakfast blend coffee, also known as morning blend, is typically a light to medium roast. It offers a bright, refreshing flavor that's slightly sweet and acidic, making it perfect for mornings. While not considered strong, it can surprisingly have slightly more caffeine than darker roasts. Popular breakfast blends include well-known brands like Maxwell House and Green Mountain, but the best options are freshly roasted. Colipse offer unique breakfast blends made from specialty-grade Colombian, Peruvian, and Salvadoran beans, creating flavors of almonds, sweet citrus, ripe berries, caramel, and spice.

What is Donut Shop Blend Coffee?

Donut shop blend coffee is a style of coffee specifically designed to pair perfectly with donuts. Donut shop blend typically features a mix of Arabica beans sourced from Latin America or Indonesia. Inspired by the traditional coffee served in mid-20th century American diners and donut shops, it offers a smooth, approachable flavor profile ideal for everyday drinking. It's roasted to a light or medium level, resulting in a smooth, balanced flavor with subtle notes of chocolate or caramel. The bright acidity cuts through the sweetness of donuts, creating a delightful contrast. It's the perfect pairing for a refreshing start to the day. While the term "Donut Shop Coffee" is often used for marketing purposes to evoke nostalgia, these blends generally prioritize high-quality Arabica beans, like Colombian or Brazilian, for a smooth and enjoyable experience. At Colipse, we don't offer donut shop blend coffee.

What is Holiday Blend Coffee?

Holiday blend coffee is a special type of coffee made to evoke the flavors and aromas of the holiday season, often incorporating spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Holiday blends frequently include Indian and Indonesian beans for warm spice notes and Brazilian beans for a nutty, chocolatey base. The intensity of a holiday blend's flavor depends on the types of beans used and how they are roasted. Darker roasts and certain bean varieties can create a bolder, "stronger" cup. The best holiday blend coffee depends on your preferences. Some popular brands include San Francisco Bay and Peet's Coffee, but many people think the best blends come from specialty coffee stores. Colipse's holiday blend coffee is made of specialty grade beans from Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru.

What is Christmas Blend Coffee?

Christmas blend coffee is a marketing term for a type of coffee blend made for the holiday season. This blend is branded to align with holiday themes and consumer sentiment. The blend mixes Latin-American, Indonesian, and Sumatran coffee beans, creating spicy, sweet flavors with hints of cinnamon or nutmeg. The blend is known for its full body and rich flavor, often with notes of chocolate, nuts, and spices. Christmas blend coffee is a limited-time, seasonal product designed to boost sales during the holiday period. While typically only available during the Christmas season, some brands like Starbucks and Community Coffee offer their Christmas blends year-round. You can also find year-round options from various brands on Amazon. Colipse does not sell Christmas blend coffee beans.

What is Hawaiian Blend Coffee?

Hawaiian blend coffee is a mix that typically combines coffee beans from different growing regions within Hawaii, such as Kona, Maui, Ka’u, and the Big Island. Hawaiian coffee blends feature bright acidity, a medium body, and flavors of fruit and chocolate. Hawaii’s unique volcanic soil and tropical climate enhance these flavors, making them ideal for espresso and milk-based drinks like flat whites, cappuccinos, and lattes. Authentic Kona coffee must be 100% Kona beans, and Hawaii has strict labeling laws to ensure transparency. To experience the true taste of Hawaiian blends, look for reputable brands that prioritize transparency and source high-quality beans from various Hawaiian regions. At Colipse, we do not sell Hawaiian blend coffee.

What is Kona Blend Coffee?

Kona Blend Coffee is a mix of Kona coffee beans from Hawaii's Kona region and beans from other regions, often outside Hawaii. These blends typically consist of 10% Kona coffee and 90% lower-cost beans. In contrast, Kona coffee consists of 100% Kona beans certified by the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Kona blends aim to replicate Kona coffee’s smoothness and mild flavor but dilute its quality by mixing non-Kona beans. This makes blends more affordable than 100% pure Kona coffee, which is rare and costly due to unique growing conditions and labor-intensive production. Colipse does not sell Kona coffee blends.

What is Colombian Blend Coffee?

Colombian blend coffee is a type of coffee made from beans sourced primarily from Colombia. Colombian blend coffee typically features a medium to dark roast with a balanced flavor profile with medium acidity and smooth taste. It often offer tasting notes of chocolate, nuts, herbs, and fruit with a citrusy acidity. They produce a mild, balanced cup with a medium, silky body, tropical hints, and a fruity, spicy aroma. Blending Colombian coffee involves mixing beans from different regions or farms around Colombian Triangle to achieve a desired taste profile. Top Colombian specialty coffee roasters include San Antonio Estate in Buenavista, Almendra Selecta in Antioquia, and Madre Selva in Ciudad Bolívar, known for high-quality Colombian blends. Colipse offers its signature Arabica blend made from 100% Colombian beans. known for producing high-quality Arabica beans.

What is Cowboy Blend Coffee?

Cowboy blend coffee refers to a rustic coffee style blend often associated with traditional campfire brewing. Cowboy blend coffee evokes the rugged spirit and bold flavors of the American West. It's inspired by the traditional "campfire coffee" brewed by cowboys and pioneers, where coarse grounds were boiled in a pot over an open fire, resulting in a strong, gritty brew. Modern Cowboy Blends capture this essence with a blend of medium to dark roasted beans, delivering a full-bodied, smoky flavor with notes of dark chocolate, leather, and a hint of campfire. Those who prefer rich, uncomplicated coffee with a touch of rustic charm often choose Cowboy blend coffee. Many coffee brands offer their own take on Cowboy Blend, each with unique characteristics. At Colipse, our Cowboy Blend is a medium-dark roast crafted with 50% Colombian beans for sweetness and 50% Kenyan beans for acidity, creating a balanced and robust cup that's perfect for any adventure.

What is Mushroom Blend Coffee?

Mushroom blend coffee combines ground coffee beans with powdered medicinal mushrooms like reishi, chaga, and lion's mane, typically in equal parts. The goal is to deliver a coffee-like experience with the added benefits of adaptogens. Adaptogens are plant-based compounds found in mushrooms that are believed to support stress management and overall well-being. These compounds have been used historically in Chinese medicine. While the taste is similar to regular coffee, one proven advantage is reduced caffeine content, which can lead to fewer jitters and better sleep. Marketers often tout additional health benefits, but many of these claims lack scientific validation. Colipse does not offer mushroom blend coffee.

How to Choose the Best Coffee Blends for Different Brewing Methods?

Choosing the best coffee blend for your brewing method involves understanding how factors like bean origin, roast level, and grind size interact with the brewing process. Coffee brewing methods can be categorized into four main types: steeping, drip, boiling, and pressurized.

Steep Brewing (French Press, Cold Brew): Steeping involves a coarse grind to prevent over-extraction. The long steeping time for these methods benefits from darker roasts, which extract well without becoming bitter. For French press, try a darker roast with full-bodied characteristics, like a Sumatran blend coffee or Italian blend coffee. Cold brew works best with smooth, medium to dark roasts, such as holiday coffee blends or Arabica coffee blends to enhance sweetness and create a refreshing concentrate.

Drip Brewing (Drip, Pour Over: Drip coffee makers benefit from medium grind and light to medium roasts with balanced acidity and body. The faster brew time of drip coffee makes lighter roast blends ideal, as they won't be under-extracted. Consider a classic Breakfast Blend coffee with bright notes or Colombian coffee blends for a smoother cup. For Pour Over, opt for light to medium-light roasts with bright acidity and nuanced flavors, like light roast blends or blonde espresso blends.

Boiling Brewing (Turkish Coffee, Cowboy Coffee): These methods involve a very fine grind, similar to powdered sugar, and often use dark roasts. For Turkish coffee, try a Turkish blend coffee specifically designed for this method, often containing Arabica beans with a rich, chocolatey flavor. Cowboy coffee can be more forgiving, but a medium-dark roast with a full body will hold up well to the bold brewing style.

Espresso Brewing: Espresso requires a fine grind and medium-dark roasts with strong, bold flavors. Think espresso blends, like those with 15% washed Robusta beans, 50% natural Brazilian beans, and 35% washed Colombian beans, or even a dark-roasted Colombian blend. The pressure extracts intense flavors and creates a rich crema.

What is the Best Coffee Blend for Espresso?

The best coffee blend for espresso often starts with Brazilian arabica beans for their full body and chocolatey flavor. These are combined with Central American beans, such as Honduran, for brightness and fruitiness, or African beans like Ethiopian Sidamo for floral notes. Some espresso blends add Robusta for a thicker crema and a touch of spice.

What is the Best Coffee Blend for Cold Brew?

The best coffee blend for cold brew is smooth and full-bodied with low acidity, highlighting sweet, chocolatey, or nutty notes. A recommended cold brew blend could be 50% Brazilian dry-process for body and nutty sweetness, 25% Sumatra for added depth and syrupy body, and 25% Colombian or Central American coffee for balanced flavor and mild sweetness.

What is the Best Coffee Blend for French Press?

The best coffee blend for French press emphasizes body and richness. Use 60% medium-roasted Colombian or Brazilian beans for a full-bodied base, 20% Sumatra for earthy notes, and 20% medium-light roasted Ethiopian or Kenyan beans for brightness and fruity hints.

Where to Buy Coffee Blends?

You can buy coffee blends from specialty shops for fresh, premium options and expert advice. Online marketplaces like Amazon offer variety and convenience, while roasters' sites feature exclusive blends and detailed sourcing information. Local supermarkets provide everyday blends. Top sites like Blue Bottle and Stumptown curate high-quality selections. Online coffee stores like Colipse offer roast-to-order coffee blends for sale in both whole bean and ground forms.

What is the Price for Coffee Blends?

Here at Colipse, our specialty coffee blends start at $19.99 for a 12 oz bag. We offer a variety of blends online to suit different tastes, and you can choose from whole bean or ground options. We also offer coffee blend subscriptions starting at $17.96 for a 12 oz bag. With a subscription, you can enjoy regular deliveries of your favorite blend at a discounted price, always freshly roasted to order.

Is Blended Coffee Cheaper than Single Origin Coffee?

Yes, blended coffee is generally cheaper than single origin coffee. The cost difference arises because blended coffee combines beans from various regions, often focusing on affordability and consistency. Single origin coffee, sourced from a specific location, typically commands a higher price due to its unique flavor profile, limited supply, and the specific growing conditions in its region of origin. Factors like demand and transportation costs can also influence the price.

What is the Difference between Coffee Blends and Single Origin?

Coffee blends mix beans from various locations, while single-origin coffee comes solely from one region, such as Brazil or Ethiopia. Single-origin coffee is often seasonal and valued by enthusiasts for its distinct flavors. Notable varieties include Ethiopia’s lime-like acidity with blueberry aroma, Guatemala’s apple-like acidity with honey sweetness, Sumatra’s earthy taste with molasses sweetness, and Peru’s hibiscus acidity with floral aroma. Light to medium roasting highlights these unique flavors, while darker roasting can overwhelm them.