Blind Assessment: Sweetly tart, guava-like fruit tones run through the profile from nose to finish. Oak, nut-toned cocoa and floral complications. Soft, rounded acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. Gentle, lively, even juicy finish.

Notes: A dry-processed or "natural" coffee, meaning the beans were dried inside the fruit rather than after the fruit has been removed, as is the case with wet-processed or "washed" coffees. Haraz is a celebrated coffee growing region in north-central Yemen, west of the capital of San'a. Although Ethiopia is the botanical home of Coffea arabica, Yemen introduced the beverage to the rest of the world in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Yemeni coffee is still grown from ancient cultivars and sun-dried, usually on the roofs of stone houses. This particular Yemen is the result of a program aimed at improving the quality of this legendary coffee by drying on raised tables and processing only ripe fruit. Based in the San Diego area, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters is a retailer and wholesaler focused on organic and socially responsible coffees; it was awarded the “2012 Roaster of the Year” title from Roast Magazine. Visit www.birdrockcoffee.com or call 858-551-1707 for more information.

Who Should Drink It: Unusual profile from a rarely imported origin will interest aficionados and casual coffee drinkers who enjoy sweetly tart fruit character but avoid aggressive acidity.