Roaster Location: | Portland, Oregon |
Coffee Origin: | Boquete growing district, western Panama |
Roast Level: | Light |
Agtron: | 61/84 |
Est. Price: | NA |
Review Date: | October 2005 |
Aroma: | 8 |
Acidity: | 8 |
Body: | 7 |
Flavor: | 9 |
Aftertaste: | 9 |
Blind Assessment: Exquisitely delicate aroma suggests a fine Oolong tea, with extravagant floral notes but a distinct (and coffeeish) hint of chocolate. The chocolate strengthens in the cup, with a tartly sweet, lemon-toned acidity. The lemon-chocolate notes outlast a gentle astringency in the long, pleasing finish.
Notes: The 2004 version of this exceptional coffee attracted a score of 95.6 from a jury of international coffee cuppers at the Best of Panama 2004 Cupping Event, then, at the subsequent auction, set what would appear to be a world record price for a green coffee - $21.00 per pound - paid by a consortium of American specialty roasters. The 2005 crop also topped the competition, and like the record-setting lot from the previous year, was produced from trees of the Geisha variety of arabica, a variety with Ethiopian parentage, by Finca Esmeralda owners Price and Daniel Peterson. Under the youthful and enthusiastic leadership of Duane Sorenson, Stumptown has become a leading buyer and supporter of Cup of Excellence coffees. Visit www.stumptowncoffee.com or call 503-230-7797 for more information.
Who Should Drink It: Those for whom the finest teas are too thin and the best coffees too heavy.
This review originally appeared in the October, 2005 tasting report: Not for Beginners: Prize-Winning Latin American Coffees 2005