Coffee Beans - Blends

Coffee blends combine coffee beans from different origins to create a unique and distinctive characteristic that may not be present in any single origin by itself. Blends can also combine similar or different origins at different roast levels to produce further interesting combinations.

Blending coffee beans is done for somewhat different reasons depending on the objectives of the roaster.

Commercial Coffee Blending

The big, scaled-up commercial roasters will take a better coffee with an appealing aroma and acidity and blend with a lesser quality grade of coffee to cut costs. Or they may blend in an even more unexciting and dull Robusta coffee to cut costs even further. The commercial roaster has an additional coffee blending challenge to create a consistent coffee over time while the underlying coffee harvests and bean selections can vary and can be difficult to control. For example, consumers who buy Folgers coffee in the supermarket expect the coffee to taste the same can after can.

Premium Coffee Blends

With premium coffees, the blender's primary goal is to create a distinctive and unique coffee through the combination of coffee beans with different taste characteristics, rather than manipulate the combination of different quality coffee beans simply to cut costs.

Coffee blending requires an expert understanding of the taste characteristics and qualities of the coffee beans. As gourmet coffee consumers, we look for the skills, knowledge and experience of the master roaster and coffee blender to produce exciting, interesting and consistent coffee blends that add to our coffee enjoyment.

When blending for taste, a common approach is to combine coffees that compliment each other or fill in characteristics that the other coffee may lack. For example, one of the world's most famous and traditional blends is Mocha Java. Yemen Mocha is a lively, fruity, winy coffee with higher levels of acidity. Indonesian Java is a smoother, full bodied coffee with deeper tones and tends to smooth out a Yemen Mocha while the Mocha tends to liven up the Java. A nice combination and complimentary coffee blend.

Blending coffee beans for espresso is very common. Pulling a shot of espresso coffee produces a concentrated cup that can amplify and exaggerate the taste characteristics of a single origin including acidity, body, aroma, finish, and bitterness, etc. Blending can bring together the strengths and characteristics of different coffees to produce a better balanced, sweeter coffee in the concentrated cup.

Here are several of our favorite and recommended coffee blends.

	Mocha Java - Green Mountain Coffee   Price: $9.49, 12 oz. Classic Mocha Java blend brings the contrast of Yemen Mocha together with Indonesian Java for a unique and superb centuries old world favorite. Yemen Mocha brings an African brightness and winy acidity. Indonesian Java brings the sweet and syrupy body, earthier tones. Lighter roast Cocoa, cedar, floral and caramel notes Mocha Java - Green Mountain Coffee, 12 oz.
	Dark Magic Espresso Blend - Green Mountain Coffee   Price: $9.49, 12 oz. Wonderful flavor, rich, sweet and complex Crafted for a sweet and intense espresso A blend of single origins to produce hints of fruit, cedar, floral tones with dark chocolate notes. Darker roast, nice touch of smoke Dark Magic Espresso Blend - Green Mountain Coffee - 12 oz.
	Nantucket Blend - Green Mountain Coffee   Price: $9.49, 12 oz. Medium roast, rich flavor, full body, very smooth. One of the most popular Green Mountain Coffee blends, favored by many customers. This blend combines Indonesian coffees for sweetness, and syrupy notes with a touch of African coffees for some brightness, and berry fruit hues. Perfect for every day brew, makes a delicious ice coffee, and can be used for espresso. Nantucket Blend - Green Mountain Coffee 12 oz.
	Klatch World's Best Espresso Coffee - Klatch Coffee Price: $15.95, 12 oz. Named best espresso coffee in the world at the 2007 World Barista Championships. A blend of several coffee varieties from various global regions designed exclusively for the perfect espresso. Features initial tastes of decadent chocolate and tart citrus. Syrupy sweet wine-like berry and spice notes. Medium roasted to perfection to produce a rich and sweet espresso. Klatch World's Best Espresso - Klatch Coffee - 12 oz.
	French Roast - Coffee Labs   Price: $13.00, 1 1b. Special blend of Sumatra Mandheling and Peru Aparm accentuates the intensity of a dark roasted coffee. A superb big and bold French roast coffee. Rich, creamy and oakey, with maple syrup undertones. French Roast - Coffee Labs- 1 1b.