Origin 20 | Brewing Los Altos

We’ll hear from our coffee and education teams, who will be sharing their unique perspectives on these well-loved coffees. From classic pour-overs, to experimental cold brewing, they'll guide you through the best ways to brew, revealing how to get the most from them, plus some unexpected recipes, inspiring you to rediscover your favourite cup.

A coffee we look forward to welcoming back year after year, and a firm favourite in the Origin community, Los Altos is an excellent example of an approachable and well-rounded washed coffee. A crisp acidity and smooth, chocolatey body are complimented by a sweet nuttiness that is widely enjoyed on filter or espresso, black or white. Seasonally sourced, it returns to our lineup at the end of summer and stays through to around springtime, giving us plenty of time every year to enjoy.

Our coffee team have ventured to the Los Altos farms numerous times, and each time feel warmly welcomed by the family and workers that come together to create this incredible crop. The Mierisch family have been cultivating exceptional coffee in Nicaragua for generations. Despite the adversity they have faced along that journey, including civil war and the complexities of climate change, their dedication to quality, experimentation and sustainability has earned them global recognition and numerous awards for their speciality coffee. We’re proud to have a direct trade partnership that spans over a decade, a relationship that highlights a shared commitment to pursuing coffee excellence, while respecting the environment and people involved.

We spent some time behind the counter with Origin Barista Trainer for Edinburgh, Fraser Ballantyne, who shared his insights on Los Altos with us, plus his favourite ways to brew.

“For me, this classic AeroPress recipe really highlights the smooth sweetness of this coffee, strong caramel notes and rounded body, coupled with an intricate balance of citric and malic acid.”

Traditional AeroPress 

 What you’ll need:   

• 14.7g ground coffee (I ground this to #6 on our EK grinder, a medium-coarse setting) 
• 250g water at 94°C 
• Assembled AeroPress brewer, positioned inverted on a scale 

Method: 

1. Add coffee to the inverted AeroPress 
2. Add all water 
3. Stir 10 times 
4. Attach filter + cap 
5. Start timer, and at 1 minute start pressing slowly, until you reach 2 minutes  
6. Serve 

At one of our Wholesale Partners:

Stanley & Ramona 

Fri-Weds: 07:30-15:00, Thurs: 07:30-17:00 

30A Bishopthorpe Rd, York  

YO23 1JJ

“We have had Los Altos as our mainstay espresso for over 7 years. For us, it’s the perfect combination of sweet with a slight bitterness, which makes it perfect for an americano or a flat white.”

At an Origin Coffee Shop: 

We serve Los Altos on filter across all our coffee shops—find your closest here.