The World's Leading Coffee Guide
The coffees and espressos that appear below demonstrate exceptional value relative to other coffees of similar quality and distinctiveness as reflected in their overall score. These best value coffees often sell out quickly and may no longer be available. Older reviews may no longer accurately reflect current versions of the same coffee.
Balanced, bright. Cocoa nib, orange zest, almond brittle, plum, cedar in aroma and cup. Sweet-toned with juicy, high-toned acidity; crisp, velvety mouthfeel. Quiet finish that leads with notes of cocoa nib and orange zest, rounding to cedar in the long.
Crisply sweet, chocolaty. Baking chocolate, apricot, lemon verbena, fresh-cut fir, nougat in aroma and cup. Sweet in structure with brisk acidity; crisp, satiny-smooth mouthfeel. The finish centers around notes of baking chocolate, fir, and lemon verbena.
Evaluated as espresso. Chocolate fudge, pomegranate, cedar, honeysuckle, lime zest in aroma and small cup. Plush, syrupy mouthfeel; deep, chocolaty finish. In three parts milk, both chocolate and floral notes are amplified, complicated by pomegranate and cedar.
Rich, chocolaty, floral-toned. Baking chocolate, lily, fresh-cut fir, golden raisin, orange zest in aroma and cup. Richly sweet structure with gentle, mild acidity; very full, syrupy mouthfeel. Crisp, chocolaty finish with undertones of orange zest and fresh-cut fir.
A splendid, uncompromising example of its style, though not for everyone. Fresh humus, perique pipe tobacco, freshly dried prune, musk, raw chocolate in aroma and cup. Sweet-savory structure with low-toned, round acidity; plush, syrupy mouthfeel. The sweetly earth-toned finish is long and resonant, with notes of forest floor, pipe tobacco and musk.
Evaluated as espresso. Deep-toned, chocolaty and rich. Dark chocolate, hazelnut, gently scorched cedar, raisin, gardenia-like flowers in aroma and small cup. Full, creamy mouthfeel; chocolaty, wood-framed finish. Milk amplifies both dark chocolate and hazelnut notes in a richly sweet presentation.
Gently fruit-toned. Raspberry jam, wine barrel, dark chocolate, hazelnut, gardenia in aroma and cup. Sweet-toned with brisk acidity; velvety-smooth mouthfeel. The finish evokes hard berry cider with chocolate and gardenia undertones.
Evaluated as espresso. Richly chocolaty, fruit-toned. Dark chocolate, raspberry jam, cedar, caramel, lemon verbena in aroma and small cup. Crisp, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel; chocolaty, sweetly herbaceous finish. In three parts milk, raspberry notes recede and caramel and chocolate come forward.
Delicately vibrant, crisply sweet-tart. Peach, cocoa nib, lilac, pink grapefruit zest, pistachio in aroma and cup. Balanced, sweetly tart in structure; richly silky mouthfeel. The satisfying finish consolidates to notes of cocoa-toned stone fruit.
Crisply sweet-tart. Green apple, magnolia, oak, maple syrup, almond in aroma and cup. Sweet-tart structure with brisk acidity; delicate, silky mouthfeel. Almond and apple notes lead in the quiet finish.
Sweetly savory, floral-toned. Lily, hazelnut, cocoa powder, black cherry, oak in aroma and cup. Sweet structure with pert acidity; full but lively mouthfeel. Floral tones fade in the finish, while cocoa powder and fresh-cut oak come forward.
Crisply chocolaty, rich-toned. Baking chocolate, cashew, graham cracker, golden raisin, a hint of marjoram in aroma and cup. Sweet structure with mild acidity; crisp, velvety mouthfeel. The finish is chocolaty and nut-driven with undertones of marjoram.
Rich, deep-toned. Cocoa powder, roasted cashew, persimmon, bay leaf, fresh-cut fir in aroma and cup. Sweetly savory with gentle, round acidity; full, satiny-smooth mouthfeel. The cocoa-driven finish is complicated by persimmon and fir.
Cocoa-toned, richly floral. Honeysuckle, cocoa nib, red currant, cedar, pink grapefruit zest in aroma and cup. Brightly sweet-tart structure with balanced acidity; smooth, lightly creamy mouthfeel. Finish is resonant, redolent with red currant, cocoa nib and cedar notes.
Deep, sweetly earth-toned. Fresh humus, pipe tobacco, persimmon, molasses, magnolia in aroma and cup. Sweet-savory structure with bright, juicy acidity; very full, syrupy mouthfeel. The finish consolidates to notes of pipe tobacco and magnolia with hints of persimmon.
Evaluated as espresso. Richly fruit-centered, deeply aromatic. Raspberry, dark chocolate, sandalwood, narcissus, lemon verbena in aroma and small cup. Plush, viscous mouthfeel; fruit- and floral-toned finish. In three parts milk, spice-toned sweet florals preside, with support from rich chocolate notes.
Delicately sweet, subtly tart, elegant. Apricot, almond, cocoa nib, key lime, caramel in aroma and cup. Sweet-tart structure with bright, juicy acidity; very full, syrup mouthfeel. Resonant, cocoa-toned finish.
Delicate, deep; complex. Pomegranate, macadamia nut, pink grapefruit zest, agave syrup, a hint of fresh dill in aroma and cup. Sweet-savory structure with gently tart, juicy acidity; supple, syrupy mouthfeel. The multi-layered finish, long and inviting, retains all of the flavor and aroma notes from the cup and adds a subtle tropical fruit note suggesting lychee.
Richly spice-toned, gently floral. Star anise, baking chocolate, lavender, vanilla, cedar in aroma and cup. Sweetly tart with pert acidity; very smooth, silky mouthfeel. The quietly flavor-laden finish centers around chocolate, lavender and star anise.
Deep-toned, cocoa-driven. Cocoa powder, golden raisin, molasses, magnolia, fresh-cut fir in aroma and cup. Sweet-toned in structure with brisk acidity; velvety-smooth mouthfeel. The crisp, cocoa-toned finish is supported by notes of magnolia and fresh-cut fir.
