Organization: Willoughby's Coffee & Tea, Branford, Connecticut
Coffee: India AA Elkhill Estate
Reviewed: May 2007
Overall Rating: 95 points
Roast (Agtron): Light (66/85)
Estimated Price:
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Origin: Coorg growing region, southern India

Notes: AA is the highest grade of India arabica coffee based on fewest from visual imperfections and largest bean size. Elkhill Estate is a farm with a long and distinguished history, and like almost all Indian farms, has pursued admirable ecological and shade practices throughout its 150-year history. Willoughby's Coffee & Tea is a pioneer specialty coffee roaster recently reinvigorated and refocused on artisan roasting and a very extensive collection of elite single-origin coffees. Visit www.willoughbyscoffee.com or call 800-388-8400 for more information.

Blind Assessment: An extraordinarily pure coffee in a dramatically light roast style. Sweet nut, fresh-cut cedar and orangy citrus in the aroma. Medium-bodied and giddily sweet in the cup, delicate but rich, with low, wine-toned acidity, an orange-toned fruit and hints of nut, flowers and chocolate. The complex fruit notes carry into a quietly rich, clean finish.

Who should drink it: A demonstration of how lyric and exhilarating a very pure coffee can be at a very light roast. Inherent sweetness and low acidity should make this a relatively stomach-friendly coffee.

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