Blind Assessment: Evaluated as espresso. Exuberant, vibrantly composed. Buttery chocolate, wisteria, blood orange zest, almond, pineapple guava in aroma and small cup. Creamy, smooth mouthfeel. The rich finish is flower-forward and chocolaty, precise in its clarity. It continues to impress in three parts milk, which further sweetens the chocolate notes and rounds the bright fruit tones.

Notes: This exceptional coffee was selected as the No. 25 coffee on Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2016.  Southern Ethiopia coffees like this one are produced from traditional Ethiopian varieties of Arabica long grown in the region. It was processed by the wet or washed method (fruit skin and pulp are removed before drying). Southern Ethiopia coffees processed by this method typically express great aromatic complexity and intensity, with a particular emphasis on floral 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. Visit www.facebook.com/4ArtsZeroDefectCoffees or call 886-0983-749876 for more information.

The Bottom Line : An exhilarating single-origin Yirgacheffe espresso: classically balanced; richly sweet, elegant and engaging.