LIGHTYEAR COFFEE
Your Roadmap
to Specialty Coffee and Roasters
Unpack the data, analytics, and insights behind your next favorite coffee.
Lightyear Coffee
EXPLORE LIGHTYEAR
COFFEE INTELLIGENCE
- Q3 2026
The State of Specialty Coffee
Q3 2026 market information
Colombia is #1
24.1%
Of the single origins in the Q3 2026 dataset were Colombian – more than any other origin
single origins offered per roaster
6.6
average
washed leads the way
53%
Of the single origins in the Q3 2026 dataset were washed (vs 19% naturals)
Prices
20% of all coffees were priced between $20 and $25 (for 12 oz bag).
Certifications are rare
Only one in six coffees in the Q2 2026 dataset had at least one agricultural or environmental certification.
A few origins dominate
55% of the Q2 2026 coffees came from just five origins - Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Brazil, and Honduras.
Specialty Coffee Is Getting More Selective
An analysis of over 5,000 single origin coffees spanning Q4 2025 through Q2 2026 shows how, and to what extent, roasters have modified their origin selections and pricing in the midst of significant global economic and climate pressure …
What Do Roasters Actually Put On Their Bag Labels?
Single origin coffee bags have a lot of work to do …
What Smithsonian Bird Friendly Coffee Really Means
If you buy specialty coffee online, chances are you’ve seen a dizzying mix of sustainability claims and logos …
Coffee Insights
A Real Coffee Flavor Wheel
This is a real coffee flavor wheel, based on 1,200 actual single origin coffees and their tasting notes as described by the roasters. The size of each slice is proportionate to the frequency that note is mentioned across the 1,200 coffees …
1,203 Coffees: Origins and Tasting Notes
How does the taste of coffee vary based on the region it originates from? There are clear patterns when it comes to the dominant notes of coffees from different coffee-growing regions around the world …
Impact of Altitude on Flavor Profile for 745 Single Origin Coffees
How does the flavor of coffee vary with the altitude at which it was grown? What primary tasting notes are more common from lower-altitude coffees, as opposed to higher altitudes? …
Roast Level & Primary Tasting Notes for 887 Single Origin Coffees
What roast level and tasting note pairings are common? Where are the pockets of uniqueness? Can a dark roast really have a citrus as a primary tasting note? …
First & Second Tasting Notes for 1,165 Single Origin Coffees
The first and second tasting notes of single origin coffees, as identified by the roaster. What tasting note pairings are common vs. rare? …
First 3 Tasting Notes of 600 Single Origin Coffees
For a visual representation of the flavor of coffee, we looked at the first 3 tasting notes of 600 different single origin coffees …
Tasting notes by origin
Tasting note patterns across a large set of coffees
Cultivation altitude vs. taste profile
Roast level vs. taste profile
