Blind Assessment: Evaluated as espresso. Richly sweet, fruit-toned. Dark chocolate, date, sassafras, molasses, fresh-cut cedar in aroma and small cup. Velvety mouthfeel; the crisp finish centers around dark chocolate and cedar notes. Dark chocolate and molasses amplify in milk while date and cedar recede.

Notes: Produced at Finca Santa Augusta (a registered bird sanctuary) entirely of the Anacafe 14 variety of Arabica, and processed by the washed method (fruit skin and flesh are removed from the beans before they are dried). Certified USDA Organic. 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 single-variety Guatemala espresso, pleasingly fruit-forward in the straight shot, rich-toned and chocolaty in three parts milk.