Blind Assessment: Chocolaty, sweetly smoky. Dark chocolate, scorched mesquite, lily, raisin, hazelnut in aroma and cup. Bittersweet structure with gentle acidity; crisp, light mouthfeel. Bittersweet finish with notes of chocolate and scorched mesquite.

Notes: Produced at Beneficio La Esperanza from trees of the Bourbon, Caturra and Catuai varieties of Arabica and processed by the washed method. El Gran Cafe is a coffee shop located in the heart of Antigua, Guatemala whose mission is to roast and serve organic-certified coffees produced at its own Finca La Esperanza and Finca El Pintado just outside of town. Featured in El Gran Cafe’s lineup are also coffees from friends and neighbors in the region, along with award-winning and exceptional coffees from other regions of Guatemala. Visit https://elgran.cafe/ for more information.

The Bottom Line: A classic dark roast Guatemala cup with barely perceptible acidity and nice chocolate and nut tones; ideal with a splash of milk.