Blind Assessment: Delicately fruit-forward, crisply chocolaty. Date, baking chocolate, hazelnut, tangerine zest, cane sugar in aroma and cup. Sweet-toned structure with gentle, round acidity, plush, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. Understated, balance, nut- and chocolate-toned finish.

Notes: Produced by smallholding farmers surrounding the Gasharu Washing Station, entirely of the Bourbon variety of Arabica, and processed by the natural method (sun-dried in the whole fruit). Founded in 1994, Coffee By Design is a specialty coffee roaster in Portland, Maine that also operates three coffee shops in town, as well as one in Freeport. Visit www.coffeebydesign.com.  

The Bottom Line: A friendly, easygoing Rwanda cup, cleanly natural processed, with deep fruit, floral, and nut tones.