Blind Assessment: For both Ken (90) and co-cupper Christy Thorns (91), extraordinary aroma: For Christy "freshly grown ginger, orange peel, apricot, mint and lemon." Ken stressed the "caramelly fruit that transforms completely into chocolate." In the cup, smooth, creamy mouthfeel and, for Ken, a character "sweetly and deeply tart - dark chocolate and lemon."

Notes: Its tendency to high-toned, floral and citrus sweetness has made Yirgacheffe, from a lushly beautiful range of hills in southern Ethiopia, one of the world's most distinctive coffees. Surf City is an employee-owned, small-batch, mainly wholesale specialty roaster located close to the California coast near the city of Santa Cruz. Its motto is "Made by Surfers, for Surfers." Visit www.surfcitycoffee.com or call 831-462-2305 for more information.

Who Should Drink It: Who shouldn't? A sound, complete coffee with great aromatic excitement but without the perhaps perfumed overstatement of some Yirgacheffes.