Blind Assessment: Evaluated as espresso. Both Ken (93) and his co-taster (91) enjoyed this crisp and rather cleanly wine- and brandy-toned dried-in-the-fruit profile, though Ken enjoyed it two rating points more. The co-taster read “berries, pineapple and dried fruits” in the small cup; Ken’s associations ran to parallel descriptors of grape, orange, apricot and fresh-cut cedar. Both admired the shot in three parts milk, citing a deep, balanced sweetness that for Ken was pleasantly viscous and “banana-like.”

Notes: Ninety Plus is a distinguished boutique exporter and importer of innovative small-lot coffees from Ethiopia and Panama. Grown near Neji in the Sidama/Sidamo growing region, this Ethiopian coffee is 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. Café Est is a micro-roaster located in New Taipei City, Taiwan, owned by Ricky Liu who takes coffee quality and roasting very seriously, applying the same passion for them as he lavishes on his second favorite activity, surfing. Call +886-2-2945-1611 for more information.

Who Should Drink It : Those who enjoy a relatively brisk and clean version of the often lush brandy and fruit of dried-in-the-fruit “naturals.”