Blind Assessment: Deeply sweet-savory, energetic. Black currant, roasted cacao nib, star jasmine, almond butter, frankincense in aroma and cup. Richly sweet in structure with savory undertones and bright, lyrical acidity; full, creamy mouthfeel. Flavor-laden finish maintains the integrity of the cup well into the long.

Notes: This exceptional coffee was selected as the No. 2 coffee on Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2018. Produced by smallholding members of the Ritho Cooperative. Despite challenges ranging from unclear government coffee policy and urban encroachment on prime coffee lands to chronically unstable weather, the famed Kenya coffee auction system and its participating cooperatives continue to produce some of the world’s most elegant and distinctive coffees. Kakalove Café is a nano-roaster located in the small city of Chia-Yi in Taiwan that strives to procure and roast the finest quality coffee. Visit www.kakalovecafe.com.tw or email [email protected] for more information.

The Bottom Line: One of the most riveting Kenyas we’ve cupped all year: bright, deep, juicy and intricately nuanced.