Blind Assessment:

Mellow, balanced, sweet. Molasses, cinnamon, chocolate fudge, orange zest in aroma and cup. Balanced, sweet-toned acidity; lively, syrupy mouthfeel. The finish is sweet and resonant, saturated by chocolate notes.

Notes:

Certified organic. According to the Blue Bottle website, this blend combines a wet-processed or “washed” Ethiopia, a dry-processed or “natural” Ethiopia, and either a wet-processed Uganda or Congo. Blue Bottle Coffee started as the quintessential boutique coffee business: a micro-roasting operation in Oakland housed inside a space about as large as a suburban walk-in closet and a single retail location in San Francisco. In the years since its founding Blue Bottle has attracted a strong following in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, and now operates four roasting locations in Oakland, California; Brooklyn, New York; Los Angeles, California; and Tokyo, Japan. Visit www.bluebottlecoffee.com or call 510-653-3394 for more information.

The Bottom Line: An engaging blend of Africa coffees, equally lively and mellow, with chocolate suggestions from nose to finish.