South American single origin coffee is the comfort food of the coffee world. Good body, gentle acidity, chocolate and nuts, a little citrus around the edges. If you have ever handed someone a cup and watched them relax, odds are it came from Brazil, Colombia, Peru or Bolivia. Every bag on this page is roasted after you order it, at the roast level you choose.

What Makes South American Single Origin Coffee Different

Scale and consistency, mostly. Brazil alone grows about a third of the world’s coffee. The result is a cup with weight to it: heavier body than you get from East Africa, sweeter than Central America, and far less likely to surprise you.

Think milk chocolate rather than dark. Almond, hazelnut, brown sugar, sometimes a soft orange note underneath. Acidity is there but it stays polite, which is exactly why this region ends up in most espresso blends and most office pots. It also means South American single origin coffee is hard to ruin. Slightly off water temperature or a slightly coarse grind will not wreck it.

Choosing Your Origin

Brazil Cerrado. The workhorse. Low acidity, heavy body, peanut and cocoa. If you want something that tastes like a great diner cup, start here.

Brazil Oberon Natural 17/18. Dry processed, so the fruit stays with the bean. Sweeter and jammier than Cerrado, with a syrupy finish.

Brazil Daterra Sweet Yellow RFA and Sweet Blue RFA. Two lots from the same well-run estate. Both are clean and sweet, with the Yellow leaning caramel and the Blue a touch fruitier.

Brazil CHC Espresso Reserve Daterra Estate. Built for espresso. Dense, chocolatey and thick in the cup, and it holds up under milk.

Colombia Supremo 17/18. The classic. Balanced, medium bodied, cocoa and walnut with a clean apple brightness.

Colombia Bucaramanga El Gato Supremo. Lower elevation and softer, with a heavier, almost earthy body compared to the Supremo.

Colombia Reserva Del Patron. A step up in sweetness and clarity. Caramel, red fruit and a long finish.

Colombia Organic Sierra Nevada FTO. Grown near the Caribbean coast. Lighter, more floral, with citrus and a gentle body.

Peru Huabal San Pablo. Mild and smooth. Toasted nuts, light cocoa and very little acidity. A good everyday bean if bright coffee bothers you.

Bolivia Apolo La Paz Department and Bolivia Caranavi FTO La Paz. Small production and worth trying. Both are delicate and tea-like, with honey sweetness and stone fruit.

Roaster’s Choice. Skip the decision and we will send whatever South American single origin coffee is drinking best on the roaster that week.

Choosing Your Roast Level for South American Single Origin Coffee

Medium is the natural home for this region. It gets you the chocolate and the nuts with enough sweetness left to carry the cup. Nearly every lot above is good at medium.

Light roast is worth it for the Bolivians, the Sierra Nevada and Reserva Del Patron, where there is fruit and floral character that a longer roast burns off.

Dark roast belongs to Brazil. Cerrado, Oberon and the Daterra lots have the density and the low acidity to take a dark roast without turning ashy, and that is where you get real espresso body. Peru handles a medium dark nicely too. Our guide to choosing the perfect roast covers what each level actually does to the bean.

Roasted to Order in Concord, California

There is a window where roasted coffee is at its best, and it is roughly 7 to 21 days after the roast date. Inside that window the beans have finished degassing but the aromatics are still intact. Outside it, on either side, you are drinking a lesser version of the same coffee.

So we do not stock roasted bags. We roast your South American single origin coffee on Buckeye roasters here in Concord and it leaves within 72 hours. That is how fresh roasted coffee shipped nationwide is supposed to work.

Sizes and Grind

Pick from 6oz, 12oz, 24oz and 5lb. Most single drinkers do well on 12oz at a time. The 5lb is for offices, and if that is you, look at our wholesale program.

Whole bean is the default and we recommend it. Ground coffee loses aroma within days. If you need it ground, tell us the brew method and we will set the grinder to match. Our brew guide has ratios for drip, press and pour over.

If you run a Keurig, add the K-Cup option for $5 and we will send two reusable K-Cups with your order. They do not work in the newer Keurig machines, which need the My K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which South American single origin coffee should a first-timer buy?

Colombia Supremo 17/18 at a medium roast. It is the most representative cup in the region.

Can I get a Premium Bean as Roaster’s Choice?

No. Premium Beans cannot be used as Roaster’s Choice. Those are ordered from the Premium Selection section.

Where are the tasting notes?

The Education and Information tab has a page listing tasting notes for every bean we offer.

Is there a subscription?

There is, and it costs less per bag. Set up a coffee subscription here.

Why is Brazil in so many blends?

Body and sweetness without sharp acidity. Wikipedia’s article on Brazilian coffee production explains the scale behind it.