Single-Origin Coffee
Starbucks’ Single-Origin Series brings customers coffees from some of the most extraordinary places around the world.
Single-origin coffees have a terroir (taste of place) influenced by the specific growing conditions of each region—soil, temperature, elevation and the amount of rainfall and sunshine—or the way the coffee is processed.
It was my pleasure to tell the unique story of each coffee.
sun-dried ethiopia sidamo
Every sip is sumptuous, the result of processing high-quality coffee using the sun-dried (natural) method. Ripe, red coffee cherries are handpicked and sorted by skilled farmers in Ethiopia’s Sidamo region. The beans are then placed on raised beds in full sun with the cherry still on to absorb all the flavors of the fruit as it dries. Bursting with lush fruit, soft jasmine and rich dark chocolate notes complemented by a deep roastiness.
Illustration:
Like the traditional coffee ceremony held daily in many Sidamo homes, the mountain nyala—a symbol of strength and nobility—is a treasured part of Ethiopia’s history.
Colombia Huila
In Colombia’s Huila department, two Andean cordilleras cradle the Rio Magdalena, which draws warm tropical air upstream from the Caribbean, creating unique microclimates and conditions well-suited for growing coffee. Farmers brave remote and rugged terrain to cultivate small lots on steep slopes. We celebrate their dedication and the elegant cup they enable us to share, distinguished by apple-like acidity and a milk chocolate finish.
Illustration:
Huila’s story is one of pride and dedication—from passionate dancers celebrating their vibrant culture to hard-working farmers cultivating this exceptional coffee on jagged slopes between sweeping river and sky.
Rwanda umushanana
For many of the women of Rwanda, the cultivation of specialty coffee began as a way to reunify the people and improve livelihoods after years of turmoil. Now it is also a source of immeasurable pride. The resilience and determination of these women are reflected in each cup, as sweet notes of citrus and milk chocolate come together to create this elegant coffee—a reminder that there is strength in unity.
Illustration:
The umushanana—a traditional ceremonial dress— embodies the dignity and strength of Rwandan women and honors their many achievements, including the cultivation of this exceptional coffee.
East timor tatamailau
This coffee grows in the forested backyards of farmers near East Timor’s tallest peak, Tatamailau. The rich soil and temperate climate contribute to the beans’ character and taste—complex with herbal notes and a cocoa finish. Starbucks has long been committed to helping support farmers and their families in East Timor, buying much of the island’s yearly coffee production and investing in health clinics for local communities.
Illustration:
Legend has it a crocodile transformed himself into an island to forever nurture the people of Timor. His ridged back became the sacred mountain Tatamailau—this coffee thrives nearby.
Peru san ignacio
In the rugged Andes of northern Peru’s San Ignacio province, coffee cherries mature slowly under fluctuating temperatures, developing complex flavors. Once harvested, they’re delivered by horse, mule or motorcycle over steep, difficult terrain to the farm’s washing station to be de-pulped, and then they’re laid out on patios to dry. With layers of thyme and violet and a dark chocolate finish, every cup nods to a promising future for Peru’s fastest-growing coffee region.
Illustration:
In the San Ignacio province of northern Peru, horses are admired for their agility and endurance and play an integral role in the journey of this coffee, grown on the steep Andean mountainsides.
Mexico Chiapas
This vibrant coffee comes from the Chicomuselo municipality of Chiapas, where high altitudes and rich volcanic soil create ideal growing conditions. Using traditional cultivation methods, farmers provide a natural habitat for the coffee to thrive under a canopy of shade trees amid fragrant orchids, foraging tapirs and, on occasion, a stealthy cat in search of prey. Bright with a crisp finish and flavors of cocoa and roasted nuts.
Illustration:
Rare and solitary jaguars hunt within the dense forested slopes of Mexico’s Sierra Madre de Chiapas, where a legacy of coffee growing is generations strong.