Reviews for Cartel Coffee Lab
Delicate, crisply sweet-savory. Star jasmine, bergamot, roasted cacao nib, frankincense, maple syrup in aroma and cup. Richly tart, juicy acidity; delicate, silky mouthfeel. The gently drying finish is resonant with star jasmine and maple syrup notes in the short and hints of cocoa-toned bergamot in the long.
Price: $19.00/12 ounces.
Some difference emerged here between co-cupper Wendy De Jong (87) and Ken (89). The main divergence may have been owing to roast; Ken apparently tolerates lighter roasts more than Wendy does, who observes s “This super clean and bright coffee finished with a slight grainy note and thinness that could be addressed by more roasting experiments.” Ken, on the other hand, found pungent berry and tart cherry notes that for him reflected the fresh, pleasing flavor of the coffee fruit itself as framed by the lightish roast. There was some agreement, however: on the up side both Wendy and Ken praised the cleanly tart character, silky mouthfeel and solid finish; on the down both found some hints of fading in the green coffee.