Explainers · 6 min read · 12 June 2026
How to read a specialty coffee menu
Single origin, washed, natural, batch brew, the lot. A plain-English guide to what the words on the board actually mean.
Espresso, filter, and why a cafe lists both
Most specialty cafes run two parallel menus. Espresso drinks are pulled under pressure and are what you get in a flat white or a latte. Filter, sometimes called batch brew or pour-over, is brewed slowly with more water and a finer focus on the origin of the bean.
If a board lists a batch brew or a V60, that cafe is telling you it cares about how a single coffee tastes on its own, not just under milk.
Single origin versus blend
A blend is built for consistency and usually sits behind the espresso. A single origin comes from one farm or region and changes through the year. Cafes that name the farm, the producer, or the process are showing their hand.
Washed, natural, honey
These describe how the fruit was removed from the coffee seed. Washed tastes cleaner and more acidic. Natural tastes fruitier and heavier. Honey sits between the two. None is better, they are just different, and a good barista will happily talk you through what is on that day.
Most of the roasters we list sell their beans by the bag. If you found a coffee you loved, the cafe page links straight to the roaster. Affiliate links — dormant until launch.
Plan it for real
Pick a town and we'll build you a walkable coffee and cake crawl.