Blind Assessment: Richly sweet-savory, spice-toned. Lemon verbena, mango, cacao nib, freesia-like flowers, almond butter in aroma and cup. Balanced, bittersweet structure with vibrant, juicy acidity; delicate, silky-smooth mouthfeel. The resonant, lingering finish centers around cocoa-toned mango and almond.

Notes: This coffee tied for the highest rating in a cupping of coffees from Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador for Coffee Review’s March 2019 tasting report. Produced by Guillermo Ortiz of Finca Victoria, entirely from the Typica Mejorado variety of Arabica, in the Pichincha Province of North-central Ecuador. This is a wet-processed or “washed” coffee, meaning the fruit skin and pulp were removed from the beans immediately after harvesting and before drying. Paradise Roasters specializes in micro-lot Arabica and Robusta coffees from Asia and other emerging origins. The company prides itself on quality and freshness, craft-roasting coffees in small batches only after orders are placed. Visit www.paradiseroasters.com or call 763-433-0626 for more information.

The Bottom Line: An elegant, balanced Ecuador cup saturated with notes of tropical fruit and spicy flowers.