Blind Assessment: Evaluated as espresso. Delicately berry-toned, richly sweet. Blackberry coulis, cocoa nib, agave syrup, fresh-cut cedar, macadamia nut in aroma and small cup. Silky, viscous mouthfeel; the finish leads with notes of agave syrup and macadamia nut. Especially pretty in cappuccino format, where berry and cocoa notes balance rich aromatic cedar.

Notes: Produced in the Guji growing region, an area nestled next to Ethiopia's better-known Yirgacheffe and Sidamo regions, largely from trees of distinctive indigenous landrace varieties of Arabica. Processed by the natural method (dried in the whole fruit). Modern Times is a well-loved, exuberantly inventive Point Loma, San Diego brewery that has long specialized in coffee-beer crossovers and overlaps. Visit www.moderntimescoffee.com for more information.

The Bottom Line: A quietly complex espresso, more a crescendo than a jolt in its easy going but confident profile.