Better and Better: Sumatras 2013

Rich, pungently fruit-toned. Ripe grape and apricot, moist pipe tobacco, molasses, roasted cocoa nib in aroma and cup. Lush, juicy acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. Crisp, deeply flavor-saturated finish.

Delicately earthy and tartly fruit-toned. Fresh-cut cedar, chocolate, green grape, plum with a hint of flowers in aroma and cup. Bright, lively acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates in a sweet, rich, slightly drying finish.

Tartly sweet, spicily earthy. Dark chocolate, nutmeg, butterscotch, almond in aroma and cup. Gently bright, juicy acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates but rings on sweetly and richly in the finish.

Complexly fruit- and cider-toned. Shifting, layered fruit – banana, grape, kiwi and more – in a cidery, brandyish expression rounded and anchored by dark chocolate and spicy pine. Round, softly vibrant acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor fades just a bit in an otherwise sweet, deep, long finish.

Crisply sweet; unusual aromatics: honey, star fruit, candied pecan, orange zest, a hint of pink peppercorn in aroma and cup. Brightly expansive acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Sweetly peppery, zesty finish.

Deep, richly spicy, balanced. Butter, hazelnut, pungently mango-like fruit, a hint of dark chocolate. Juicy, opulent acidity; very smooth, lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor fades slightly in an otherwise sweet, resonant finish.

Sweet, pungent, cleanly earth-toned. Honey, carob, malt, orange zest, lavender in aroma and cup. Round, deeply expressed acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor fades just a bit in an otherwise sweet finish.

Pungently sweet, buttery, complex. Richly layered berry-toned fruit, dark chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut in aroma and cup. Round, balanced acidity; deeply syrupy mouthfeel. Resonantly flavor-saturated finish. Our five cups were very slightly uneven, for which we deducted one point, but the general impact of this coffee was superb.

Softly pungent, delicately sweet and complex. Brown sugar, layered hints of sweet chocolate, cinnamon, blackberry, orange and flowers in aroma and cup. Softly tart acidity; rather light, silkily smooth mouthfeel. The delicate flavor notes consolidate but ring gently on in the long finish.

The crisp, understated fermented fruit notes suggest a pungent dry sherry with a backgrounded plum and night-flowers sweetness and a buttery, slightly savory edge. Brisk but juicy acidity; full, syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor fades a bit in a sweet but drying finish.

Crisply pungent yet sweet, balanced. Salt taffy, walnut, fresh-cut fir, chocolate, with slight hints of flowers and citrus in aroma and cup. Juicy, gently acidity; richly syrupy mouthfeel. Sweet, crisply drying finish.

Crisply sweet, delicate but lively. Honeysuckle, candied walnut, hints of chocolate and moist pipe tobacco. Quiet, round acidity; light, silky mouthfeel. Clean, flavor-saturated finish.