How to read a coffee label

Celeste Wong

Published: December 12, 2023 at 8:35 AM

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Ever wondered what a coffee label really means? Coffee expert Celeste Wong demystifies coffee labels, as well as the terms arabica, robusta and single origin

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Want to learn more about coffee, but don't know where to start? Get expert advice from olive’s expert, Celeste Wong. Read below to learn how to read a coffee label, as well as what arabica, robusta and single origin mean.

After, discover Celeste's guide to buying the best beans at home as well as how to order coffee, how to store coffee, how to use up coffee grounds and how to taste coffee. You can also check out her guides for how to make pour-over coffee, how to use a French press, how to use a moka pot and how to use an Aeropress. For perfecting your lattes, check out our guide on how to do latte art.

How to read a coffee label

Arabica or robusta on a coffee label?

Generally, robusta is poorer quality, as it's grown at lower altitudes, which mean that the beans mature faster and don't have as much time as arabica beans to develop unique flavours. You are more likely to find arabica beans in a specialty coffee shop, so look for that on the bag or ask your local barista – choose arabica wherever possible.

Sara Mancabelli prepares a coffee using loose grinded coffe beans and a moka pot

‘Single origin’ on a coffee label

This means that the beans are from one certain place or area. It is not a mix of beans. Most often used for filter coffee, so you can taste the characteristics of the bean from that origin.

An example of a coffee label to decode, from Easy Joe’s coffee:

What it says on the bag or website: Mayni – Indigenous Community Coffee. Process: fully washed. Varietal: Caturra, Geisha and Typica. Producer: Mayni Indigenous Community. Origin: Junin, Peru. Elevation: 1650m. NOTES: chocolate, almond, honey and orange acidity.
Decoded: This means the coffee is a single type of bean from Junin, Peru, from an indigenous community coffee called Mayni.

Listen to Celeste on the olive podcast, where she shares expert advice on choosing beans, brewing methods and even how the time you drink it can improve your experience!