So, I'm sure you've heard of coffee blends before. Maybe it was on a chalkboard menu, or perhaps your barista mentioned it while pulling your morning espresso. But what exactly is a coffee blend, and why does it matter? Let’s break down what makes them unique, why we blend, and how we do it.
What Exactly Is An Espresso Blend?
A blend can be any combination of origins, processing methods and varieties but it's not just some random mix. It’s a carefully curated combination of two or more coffees, each chosen for its unique characteristics that shine in concentrated espresso brewing. All coffee has unique characteristics but in blending we are creating a whole new experience by highlighting the strengths of the individual beans.
At Blackboard we use only specialty grade coffee for our blends with a minimum cupping score of 81+ but often our selections are over the 85+ range and that's exactly where we like them.
Blends are important for cafes especially as they offer consistency to the punters they serve. This is the backbone of a cafe's offering and it needs to be a stable flavour profile which simply would not be possible with a single origin espresso. While we all love exploration and new flavours, sometimes knowing what you're in for is what keeps customers coming back. Cafes always have the ability to serve other single origins as espresso or filter but very few will go without a consistent blend offering.
Why Do We Blend Coffee?
While others might blend for cost-cutting or consistency alone, we do it for one non-negotiable reason: flavour.
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Complementary Traits: Imagine Brazil’s caramelised sweetness softening Ethiopia’s bright acidity, or Colombia’s clean citrus balancing PNG’s earthy depth. Blending lets us harmonise these contrasts and create an entirely new experience and depth.
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Magic with Milk: While purist love an espresso or black coffee, milky numbers are definitely king out in trade and not all coffee can stand up to the creamy sweetness of milk. Our blends are designed to cut through steamed dairy (or alternatives) without losing their character with options to integrate or to present more boldly.
How the Heck Are Coffees Blended?
There are two methods, but we swear by one:
Post-Roast Blending
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Roast Individually: Each origin is roasted solo to its sweet spot. Depending on the origin and processing method we can select the optimal profile to bring out the best in the beans to serve the blend. Brazil might hit a (comparatively) darker roast for body & richness, while Ethiopia stays lighter to preserve floral notes.
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Blend Post-Roast: Once cooled, beans are mixed in exact ratios (tested over countless tastings). This allows the unique traits of each coffee to cohesively meld into one another creating a whole new experience that is ideally greater than the sum of its parts.
Why we avoid pre-blending:
Roasting green beans together often means uneven development - dense beans under-roast while softer ones burn. Roasting separately means we can dial in our parameters precisely for each variety, ensuring we always capture their best side every time.
Meet the Blends
Seasonal Espresso Blend
The Flavour-town Flagship
Origins:
Colombia Washed - 50% | Brazil Natural - 25%
Ethiopia Natural - 12.5% | Ethiopia Washed - 12.5%
Description: Built for complexity and balance. Bright yet full-bodied and endlessly deep, with layers of ripe berries, citrus, and caramel. Designed to shine as black coffee but also elevate milk-based drinks with a velvety finish. It’s the flagship and the life of the party. No shortcuts, just an ethically sourced, meticulously crafted blend that satisfies every time.
Tasting Notes:
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With Milk: Creamy milk chocolate, ripe strawberries, caramel drizzle.
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Black: Bright citrus, blueberry sweetness, clean caramel finish.
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Why It Works: A balance of Colombia’s brightness, Brazil’s body, and Ethiopia’s floral & berry complexity.
Recipe
| Weight | Yield | Extraction Time | Ratio |
| 21g | 40g | 27 - 32 seconds | 1 : 1.9 |
BOLD Blend
The Cappuccino King
Origins:
Brazil Natural - 40% | PNG Washed - 40% | Timor-Leste Natural - 20%
Description: Built for depth and harmony. Rich and full-bodied, it layers dried fruit, chocolate, and caramel into a sturdy offering for your morning ritual. Designed to present boldly in milk, it transforms lattes and cappuccinos into something luxuriously smooth - velvety cocoa with sweet, toasty undertones. No gimmicks, just a reliable, indulgent and comforting brew.
Tasting Notes:
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With Milk: Toasted marshmallow, dark cocoa, dried fig sweetness.
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Black: Molasses depth, spiced plum & walnut.
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Why It Works: Brazil and Timor-Leste’s natural sweetness meld with PNG’s cocoa depth, creating a sturdy base that milk can’t overpower.
Recipe
| Weight | Yield | Extraction Time | Ratio |
| 21g | 38g | 27 - 32 seconds | 1 : 1.81 |
DARK Blend
The New Classic
Origins:
Colombia Washed - 50% | Brazil Natural - 50%
Description: Deep and full-bodied, our Dark Blend is crafted for those who appreciate a classic, satisfying cup. We’re dedicated to sourcing exceptional, ethically grown coffee, combining specialty beans from Colombia and Brazil. The result is a smooth, well-balanced brew with pleasing depth and a lingering, chocolatey finish.
Tasting Notes:
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With Milk: Fudge brownie, roasted hazelnut & toffee.
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Black: Dark cherry, bittersweet chocolate & caramel.
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Why It Works: Colombia’s mild acidity meets Brazil’s smokey, sweet body - simple, smooth, and deeply satisfying.
Recipe
| Weight | Yield | Extraction Time | Ratio |
| 22g | 38g | 27 - 31 seconds | 1 : 1.72 |
How To Brew?
Our blends are designed for the best espresso experience possible but that's not the only way they can be enjoyed:
Each brewing method will highlight different flavours, aromas and textures from the coffee but all of them will result in a satisfying brew we're sure you'll enjoy!
For more brewing tips, visit our Brewing Guide.
Ethics in Every Bean
We believe the best coffee starts with strong relationships. That’s why we team up with farmers and cooperatives who share our love for quality and sustainability. These partnerships allow us to bring you beans that are as special as the people behind them.
Every coffee in our blends is ethically sourced - from Colombia’s high-altitude cooperatives to Timor-Leste’s smallholder farms. We prioritise traceability, fair trade agreements, and partnerships that help everyone thrive.
Ready to taste the difference?
→ Shop Seasonal | → Shop BOLD | → Shop DARK
Wholesale inquiries? Visit our wholesale page to stock blends that baristas (and customers) rave about.
