We all have our go-to coffee blends—the ones you enjoy every morning, knowing exactly what to expect. Others catch you off guard in the best way possible. They’re bright, complex, and demand your attention. Those are the kinds coffees we highlight with our single origins—the ones that are too unique and too delicious to overlook.
This season, we’re exploring Honduras and Tanzania, two coffee-growing regions that are redefining expectations with bold, fruit-forward profiles. While Ethiopia has long been known for its natural process coffees, other regions are now embracing similar techniques to craft their own distinctive takes on this style. These single origins offer a fresh perspective on coffee’s evolving landscape—exciting, unexpected, and ready to be explored.
First Things First: What's a Single Origin?
A single origin coffee comes from one farm and one farm only—sometimes even down to a specific section of that farm. At Compass, we craft our blends by using several single origins, carefully combining them to create balanced, consistent flavors. Customers rely on blends like Cardinal, French Roast, and Emblem Espresso for their familiar, balanced profiles. However, maintaining that consistency is as much of a challenge as it is an art. Since coffee is an agricultural product, harvests naturally vary from year to year. Our roasting team cups and selects new coffees each season to ensure that every blend maintains the flavors customers know and love.
In the process of blending, we taste hundreds of coffees, and every now and then, a few stand out as truly exceptional. These coffees might not fit seamlessly into a blend, but they deserve their own moment to shine. That’s why we choose to feature certain single origins—to highlight these rare, remarkable coffees and bring their unique flavors directly to you. Rather than blending for uniformity, single origins showcase terroir, processing methods, and seasonal nuances, celebrating the distinct character of each harvest. For those who love our blends but want to expand their palate, single origins offer an introduction to how different and bold coffee can be around the world. And this season, we're especially excited to showcase two of our favorites.
Honduras: A Bold and Balanced Experience
Returning for a second year in a row (and for good reason), our Honduras Single Origin showcases the evolution of Honduran coffee, which has been gaining international attention for its exciting, fruit-forward profiles. Sourced from the Comayagua province, this coffee is a natural process selection, meaning the beans are dried inside the coffee cherry, allowing for more intense fruit flavors and a slight fermentation that adds depth.
Honduras Tastes Like…
→ Cacao
→ Cinnamon
→ Pear
Honduras’ natural process gives it a wild, juicy complexity while still maintaining an approachable smoothness that's extremely versatile. Over the past year, we’ve used Honduran coffee in blends like Cherry Blossom, where it makes up 25% of the mix, and in Holiday Blend, where it serves as a 10% component. The coffee is fruity, slightly "funky", and has a touch of zany acidity.
We love this single origin because it represents a drinkable yet unique coffee experience. While most coffee drinkers gravitate toward nutty, chocolatey, and caramel flavors (like those found in Cardinal Blend), single origin coffees like this Honduran natural allows customers to explore something different without straying too far from their comfort zone. It’s a gateway to more adventurous coffee profiles—exciting but not overwhelming, and still 100% approachable.
We're not the only ones who love this flavor-forward coffee—the demand for Honduran coffee in recent years is no accident. Farmers have pushed the boundaries of traditional processing methods, crafting bold, fruit-forward coffees that bridge the gap between classic and experimental. The result has been a cup that offers the best of both worlds—familiar comfort with an adventurous twist. Whether enjoyed black or with a splash of milk, this coffee adapts beautifully, making it an excellent choice for those looking to expand their palate.
Tanzania: Bright, Juicy, and Bursting with Flavor
Alongside Honduras, we’re also highlighting Tanzania’s natural process coffee this quarter. Currently featured in Horizon Blend, this coffee has previously been included in blends like Meridian, Shaw, and Cherry Blossom. If Honduras is bold and balanced, Tanzania is its bright and playful counterpart. Sourced from the highlands of Tanzania, this natural process coffee bursts with tropical fruit intensity thanks to its high elevation (more on that below.)
Tanzania Tastes Like…
→ Tropical Fruit
→ Pineapple
→ Nectarine
Arguably the most unique aspect of Tanzanian coffee is how its high-elevation growth slows maturation, allowing sugars to develop more fully and results in a smaller coffee bean with a flavor profile that is both vibrant and complex. This extended ripening process enhances the coffee’s natural acidity and fruit-forward character, giving it a crisp, lively finish. The cooler temperatures and limited oxygen at high altitudes further refine the coffee’s structure, amplifying its citrusy brightness and delicate florals.
Tanzanian coffee is a hidden gem in the specialty coffee world, and this particular lot stood out for its incredible clarity and vibrancy. It has played a key role in several of our blends, but this season, we wanted to highlight it on its own to showcase its dynamic, layered profile.
Why Honduras & Tanzania?
At Compass Coffee, one of our favorite things to do is showcase the diversity of coffee. Honduras offers a bold yet balanced profile with cocoa richness and a fruity depth, while Tanzania bursts with tropical brightness and crisp acidity.
These two coffees provide an exciting opportunity for coffee lovers to expand their palate in an easy and approachable way. They highlight the spectrum of what coffee can be—chocolaty, fruity, floral, or even “slightly funky” (as our roasting team likes to say.) By striking the perfect balance between unique and familiar, Honduras and Tanzania serve as a gateway to more adventurous coffee experiences.
Next Up on Your Coffee Adventure
There’s only one rule to coffee: you just have to like it. If you enjoy these single origin coffees, there are plenty of exciting options to explore next. Loved Honduras? Try our Cherry Blossom Blend, where it shines alongside Kenyan and Guatemalan coffees, adding depth and fruit-forward brightness. Drawn to Tanzania? Brew a cup of Horizon, which offers a similar bright and sweet flavor, with vibrant berry notes.
Looking for a recommendation? The best way to continue your journey is to talk to your barista. If you find a coffee you love, whether it’s a single origin or blend, ask about similar options or explore tasting notes to discover new coffees tailored to your preferences. Coffee is a journey—keep tasting, keep experimenting, and we’ll be here to guide you every step of the way.
