Blind Assessment:

Fruit-forward, delicate yet intense. Complex flowers (lily to lavendar), sandalwood, dark chocolate, plum, a hint of brandy in aroma and cup. Roundly and deeply crisp in structure; lightly satiny in mouthfeel. The finish is resonant and sweet with chocolate and a continuing hint of brandy.

Notes:

Yirgacheffe is a coffee region in southern Ethiopia that produces distinctive coffees from traditional varieties of Arabica long grown in the region. This is a “natural” or dry-processed version, meaning the beans were dried inside the fruit, encouraging a flavor profile that is less predictable and deeper than the more familiar wet-processed floral- and citrus-toned Yirgacheffe profile. Like virtually all southern Ethiopia coffees, this coffee is produced by villagers on small, garden plots interplanted with food and other subsistence crops. The WestBean is a San Diego-based roastery founded by two friends with a passion for coffee and a determination to bring their customers the highest quality hand-crafted coffee possible. Visit www.thewestbean.com or call 619-709-3232 for more information.

The Bottom Line: A balanced yet intricate dried-in-the-fruit Yirgacheffe, flowers grounded in chocolate with a whiff of brandy.