Blind Assessment: Deeply and roundly roast-toned. Dark chocolate, singed cedar, raisin, almond, magnolia in aroma and cup. Sweetly savory with gentle, round acidity; crisp, velvety mouthfeel. Chocolate and raisin lead the way in the quiet finish.

Notes: This exceptional coffee was selected as the No. 28 coffee on Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2020.  A natural-processed (dried in the whole fruit) Ethiopia coffee decaffeinated at the Descamex plant in Mexico by a water-only process that does not involve the use of solvents. Big Shoulders Coffee is a Chicago artisan roaster that emphasizes a fresh-roasted, no-nonsense approach to fine coffee. Visit www.bigshoulderscoffee.com or call 312-846-1439 for more information.

The Bottom Line: A sweet-toned decaf suggesting chocolate-covered raisins complicated by gently smoky aromatic wood notes.