JR Reserve Blend

Blind Assessment: Intense aroma: coffee fruit, roasty nut, molasses, a hint of flowers. In the cup roast-muted acidity, substantial mouthfeel, and a crisp, dense baker's chocolate character with continued hints of molasses, nut and flowers. Simple but richly deep finish.

Notes: A Peet's "Reserve" coffee. The JR in the blend name is a reference to the blend's creator, Peet's longtime green buyer and coffee guru Jim Reynolds. (Jim observes: "After thirty years you get a Peet's blend named after you.") Originally founded by the late Alfred Peet, one of American specialty coffee's pioneers, Peet's is now a publicly traded corporation that so far has managed to maintain its essential identity during a slow, careful expansion from its intensely loyalist base in the San Francisco Bay area. Peet's signature, very dark "deep" roast is often imitated but less often duplicated. Visit www.peets.com or call 800-999-2132 for more information.

Who Should Drink It: A felicitous marriage of what seem particularly strong-charactered green coffees and the Peet's deep, slow dark roast make this a good introduction to the Peet's style for curious non-Peetniks.