If you’ve ever wondered about the origins of lustrous Armenian coffee, we are here to lay it all out for you. We are also here to debunk the common myth that Armenian coffee is from Armenia. Interesting right? 

So where is it from? Why is it loved so muchAnd if it’s not from Armenia, why the hell is it called Armenian coffee?

Why is it Called Armenian Coffee? 

Ah, the beloved Armenian coffee from *checks notes*... it’s not grown in Armenia? 

While Armenian coffee is not necessarily grown in Armenia, we call it so because of its influence from traditional Armenian coffee making techniques that bring out its wondrous and tongue-loving flavor notes. 

That is, Armenian Coffee is the process of brewing the roasted coffee into a drinkable coffee called Soorj Սուրճ. All you need is the right grind (super-fine) and a pot--a technique that is very popular in countries around Armenia, and in the West. Similar to cowboy style coffee. An oversimplification? A little...though the process is almost identical. 

Where did Armenian Coffee Get its Name From

Armenia coffee got its name from Armenian merchants selling coffee to Europeans for the first time. During these times, Armenia was conveniently located right in the middle of the Silk Road, the first merchant road connecting Asia to Europe.

Naturally, this resulted in Armenian coffee travelling to Europe; first-off,  through coffee shops in Vienna. We do particularly enjoy the fact that during the 16th century, coffee was outlawed and being caught with it was punishable by death. Ever felt like you could die for a cup of coffee?

Nonetheless, it took a while for coffee to ascend from Ethiopia, become popularized in Mocha amongst the Arab world, and grow into the décident coffee we know today. So, where does this life enhancing elixir originate from?

How Armenian Coffee is Brought to Life

The coffee plant grows in certain terrain and geography known as the coffee belt. The farmer picks the cherry, removes its skin and inside lies the golden bean. 

The bean then goes through the process of roast, where the color changes from green to light brown then slowly to dark brown. The roaster picks the perfect flavor at roast, and packages it for ease of our delightful consumption.

A Blend to Make it Just Right

Armenian Coffee is a blend of the two most popular coffee varieties: Coffee Arabica, which adds a rich flavor and aroma, and Coffea Canephora, known for the strength of the coffee plant itself. 

What’s So Different About Armenian Coffee & Other Middle-Eastern Coffee, Anyway?

There are few differences between how Armenian, Greek, Turkish, or any other Middle Eastern coffee is produced; coffee produced today is produced using far better tools and with more. The key to coffee today is how you make it and the beans you use.

Treat Making Coffee Like You Treat Making Your Breakfast

Think of making coffee the same way you would think about making your eggs in the morning. The many variables could produce a unique outcome. Not to mention, adding milk, butter or sugar to the formula brings their own unique outcomes into the mix. 

As such, the end result is a coffee that is as unique as the person drinking it. Aside from the obvious recommended methods and techniques to not over/under brew or extract the coffee, that is.

Tasting coffee is also an art by itself. The process of selecting the perfect roast can be tough because of the many possible flavor possibilities that could come from the same beans simply by using different techniques. 

For example, the same bean might taste different depending on whether it is brewed with the Espresso machine or a FrenchPress.

At Armen Coffee, we try lots of different variations of the bean via different methods to find the perfect roast and blend for that product. The process of drinking too much coffee is called “cupping” in the industry--it’s fun! You open up your senses and feel the full flavor of the bean that has produced that cup of coffee.

 It is, in a sense, Chemistry. What’s the way to ignite this chemistry? Let's talk about the best way to make a delicious cup of Armenian coffee.