Origins & Terroir
Terroir
The complete set of environmental factors—soil composition, climate, altitude, and surrounding vegetation—that give a coffee its distinctive regional character. Borrowed from wine terminology, terroir explains why the same variety tastes different when grown in different places.
Em Profundidade
In coffee, terroir encompasses volcanic versus limestone soils, seasonal rainfall patterns, diurnal temperature swings, and even neighboring crops that share the same mycorrhizal networks. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe's jasmine florals, Kenyan AA's blackcurrant acidity, and Sumatran Mandheling's earthy body are all expressions of terroir. Specialty roasters highlight terroir by sourcing transparently and roasting lightly enough to preserve origin character rather than imposing roast flavor.