Origin Coffee Latitude Blend Review

Origin Coffee Roasters, based in Porthleven on the Cornish coast, has been one of the UK’s most quietly impressive specialty roasters since 2004. Long before specialty coffee became fashionable in London, Origin was building direct trade relationships with farmers in Ethiopia, Colombia, and Guatemala. The Latitude Blend is their everyday espresso workhorse, and it shows the accumulated knowledge of two decades of serious coffee work.

A Cornish Roaster With Global Reach

Origin’s sourcing is properly direct trade: they visit farms, build multi-year relationships, and publish transparency reports. Their team has won multiple UK Barista Championship titles, and the roastery has trained baristas who’ve gone on to open coffee shops across Britain.

The Latitude Blend reflects this background. It’s built to be consistent and accessible, working well across different machine types and in the hands of baristas at different skill levels. The medium roast preserves origin character while delivering the sweetness and body that espresso drinkers expect.

Aroma

The bag opens with caramel sweetness and almond warmth. There’s a subtle orange peel brightness that lifts the nose and points to the blend’s lighter roast approach. Freshly ground, the milk chocolate note becomes more prominent alongside the continuing caramel. It smells bright and inviting.

In the Cup

As espresso, the Latitude Blend delivers a clear, well-structured shot. The caramel sweetness comes through first, giving a pleasant opening. Almond follows through the body, with the orange peel brightness providing acidity that’s present but restrained. Milk chocolate on the finish. It’s a clean, well-integrated cup.

This is a medium-roasted espresso, which means it has more brightness than darker blends. If you’re accustomed to very dark espresso, it may initially seem lighter-bodied than you expect. Give it a chance: the caramel sweetness and clean finish are genuinely appealing.

With milk, the Latitude is excellent. The orange peel note transforms into something closer to orange blossom, giving a subtle floral quality to flat whites. The almond and caramel notes pair well with steamed milk.

Brewing Notes

The medium roast benefits from 93°C and slightly longer contact time: 28-32 seconds for a 1:2 ratio. Some home machines don’t reach 93°C reliably, which can cause under-extraction and excessive brightness with lighter blends. If this happens, try a finer grind to increase extraction.

Value

At £10.00 for 250g, the Latitude Blend costs £4.00 per 100g. This is solid value for specialty blend quality from a roaster with Origin’s standing. Their subscription offering reduces the per-bag price and includes freshness dating.

Who It’s Best For

• Specialty coffee enthusiasts who want a lighter-style espresso blend
• Flat white drinkers who appreciate subtle complexity in their milk drinks
• Anyone interested in discovering what Cornish specialty coffee can deliver
• Home baristas with capable machines who can work with medium roasts

Verdict

Origin Coffee’s Latitude Blend is a well-crafted, thoughtfully balanced espresso that showcases what a quality medium-roast blend can achieve. It’s not the most dramatic cup in the world, but it’s a consistently excellent one. A fair reflection of Origin’s expertise.

Rating: 4.3/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Origin Coffee ship nationwide? Yes. Origin ships UK-wide from their Cornish roastery and offers subscription delivery with flexible scheduling.

Is the Latitude Blend suitable for beginners? Yes, though the medium roast requires reasonably consistent technique. If you’re just starting out and don’t have good temperature control on your machine, a slightly darker blend like Origin’s House Espresso may be more forgiving. For a single-origin alternative from Origin, see the Origin Coffee Guji Ethiopia Natural.

Where can I try Origin Coffee in person? Origin has their own cafes in London (including Shoreditch and London Bridge) and Cornwall. Their beans are also stocked in numerous independent coffee shops across the UK.