Blind Assessment: Evaluated as espresso. Richly chocolaty, complex, multi-layered. Chocolate fudge, dried passionfruit, almond nougat, cedar, graphite in aroma and small cup. Lively, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel; crisply sweet-tart, chocolaty finish. In three parts milk, chocolate notes are amplified, and fruit tones softened, while the pleasing mineral edge lingers.

Notes: In addition to his retail roasting operation, Aroma Roast Coffees, Simon Hsieh also operates Soaring Phoenix Trading, a business focused on purpose-built commercial espresso blends and high-quality single-origin coffees. Customers can also visit the new showroom, Chateau Andy, in Taipei City. Visit www.facebook.com/4ArtsZeroDefectCoffees or call 886-0983-749876 for more information.

The Bottom Line: A resonantly rich single-origin Kenya espresso with a careful, deeply developed roast profile that promotes balanced notes of chocolate and fruit throughout.