Blind Assessment: Delicate, sweetly spice-toned. Pink peppercorn, date, myrrh, lavender, roasted cacao nib in aroma and cup. Crisp, spice-toned structure with citrus-like acidity; satiny, very smooth mouthfeel. The crisply sweet finish centers around spice and pungent floral notes.

Notes: This coffee tied for the third-highest rating in a tasting of 71 organic-certified coffees from Africa for Coffee Review’s November 2017 tasting report. Southern Ethiopia coffees like this one are produced from traditional Ethiopian varieties of Arabica long grown in the region. When processed by the wet or washed method (fruit skin and pulp are removed before drying) they typically express great aromatic complexity and intensity with a particular emphasis on floral notes. Like virtually all southern Ethiopia coffees, this one is produced by villagers on small, garden plots interplanted with food and other subsistence crops. Roast House is a small-batch, quality-focused roaster specializing in farm-direct organic-certified and Fair Trade Certified coffees. Visit roasthousecoffee.com or call 509-995-6500 for more information.

The Bottom Line: Lavender-like flowers and hints of zesty pink peppercorn animate this crisply sweet wet-processed Ethiopia cup.