Blind Assessment

Produced from an IllyCaffe iperEspresso capsule on matching FrancisFrancis! X7 iperEspresso brewer. Outstanding crema production. In the aroma tropical fruit, a hint of flowers, fruit-toned chocolate. In the small cup lightly syrupy mouthfeel with continued fruity chocolate notes anchored by a hint of aromatic wood. A rich short finish fades rather quickly to woody sweetness. A little overpowered by two parts milk, but impressive in body and flavor: more chocolate and aromatic wood and a reappearance of the tropical fruit and floral notes that last displayed early on in the aroma.

Notes

The IllyCaffe iperEspresso espresso system brews from proprietary plastic capsules matched to a dedicated version (X7) of the FrancisFrancis! machine. The system is technically very sophisticated, including a pre-infusion cycle on the brewer and a crema-promoting capsule design consisting of, by our count, seven different components. We used the default setting to produce a one-ounce shot with an extraction time of 27 seconds, including pre-infusion. At this writing about 75 cents per pod on the IllyCaffe website. Illy, among the world's most technically sophisticated coffee roasters, has successfully positioned its name and its rather expensive, quietly graceful espresso blends as a worldwide prestige brand. Visit www.illyusa.com or call 800-872-4559 for more information.

Who Should Drink It

Convenience-minded crema fans and those who prefer blends that favor refinement over power.

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