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.
Evaluated as espresso. Deep, pungent, complex. Dark chocolate, black cherry, musky lily, hints of oak and thyme in aroma and small cup. Plump, satiny mouthfeel. Lily and oak in particular carry into a crisply sweet finish. Maintains pungent authority in three parts milk: fudgy chocolate, cherry, oak.
Extraordinarily deep, resonant, juicy. Minty dark chocolate, orange marmalade, raspberry, hints of wisteria-like flowers and myrrh in aroma and cup. Vibrant, low-toned acidity; syrupy but buoyant mouthfeel. Long, echoing, flavor-saturated finish.
Crisply floral, delicately lively. Complex flowers – lavender, lilac – roasted cacoa nib, tangerine, fresh-cut cedar in aroma and cup. Sweetly brisk acidity; light, silky mouthfeel. Flowers in particular carry into a gentle, resonant finish.
Classically balanced, gently bright. Tangerine, walnut, honey, lavender in aroma and cup. Softly bright acidity; light, silky mouthfeel. Walnut and lavender carry into a sweet, resonant finish.
Classic, bright, intense. Blood orange, honey, roasted cacao nib, fresh-cut cedar, a hint of lily-like flowers in aroma and cup. Richly tart acidity; buoyant, lively mouthfeel. The brisker notes – cedar and cacao nib – carry into a richly drying flnish.
Brisk yet juicy. Honey, orange, vanilla, roasted cacao nib, a hint of savory herb, thyme perhaps, in aroma and cup. Roundly and gently tart acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Honey, vanilla and the hint of thyme all carry into a resonant though drying finish.
Complex, deep, sweetly tart. Tangerine, fresh-cut cedar, freesia-like flowers, honey in aroma and cup. Richly vivacious acidity; syrupy, buoyant mouthfeel. Tangerine and honey-toned flowers carry into a sweet, gently drying finish.
Sweetly crisp, balanced, quietly complex. Brown sugar, freesia-like flowers, delicate chocolate, sweet grapefruit in aroma and cup. Soft, gently tart acidity; light, satiny mouthfeel. Hints of chocolate and brown sugar carry into a resonant finish.
Evaluated as espresso. Brightly juicy, sweetly floral. Honey, tangerine, red-currant jelly, lilac, backgrounded chocolate fudge in aroma and small cup. Full, syrupy mouthfeel. The finish, sweet and richly drying, consolidates around citrus and chocolate. Smoothly bright and balanced in three parts milk – delicate chocolate, creamy citrus, a continuing hint of flowers.
Round, deep, vibrant. Concord grape, blood orange, molasses, pecan, lily-like flowers in aroma and cup. Richly tart, juicy acidity; full, syrupy mouthfeel. Fruit, flowers and nut all carry into a resonant finish.
Very sweet, delicately pungent. Red currant, spicy rose, fresh-cut cedar, vanilla in aroma and cup. Lightly bright, gently lively acidity; satiny mouthfeel. The spicy rose and red currant carry into a crisply sweet-toned finish.
Delicate but deep. Sweet lemon drop, complex flowers (lavender, rose) almond, peach in aroma and cup. Rich, sweetly tart acidity; full, velvety mouthfeel. Lemon, peach and almond in particular carry into a richly drying though flavor-saturated finish.
Monumental yet elegant. Explosive aromatics: Papaya and orange, baker’s chocolate, sweet layered flowers (lilac, honeysuckle), pungent hints of juniper and myrrh carry intact into the cup. Brisk but juicy acidity; full, syrupy mouthfeel. A dry chocolate hint in particular carries into a deep, long finish.
Evaluated as espresso. Big, complex, tartly pungent. Co-taster Ethan Hill (93) remarked on deeply expressed flowers, a very slightly fermenty berry note, and a musky, slightly savory hint. Both Ethan and Ken (92) found the cup “richly and sweetly tart,” though Ken apparently found the tart character a bit less appealing than did Ethan. Mouthfeel was “plush” (Ethan), the aftertaste deep and tartly complex for both tasters, though again, Ken would probably have appreciated the cup finishing on a slightly rounder note. In three parts milk both found the tart intensity untamed and “bordering on bracing” (Ethan).
Evaluated as espresso. For both Ken (92) and co-taster Ethan Hill (91) high-toned floral notes and rather bright fruit (nectarine, strawberry) distinguished this complex blend. Very light but buoyant, almost effervescent mouthfeel. Along with fruit and flowers Ken identified a brisk roasted cacao-nib note that for him softened to chocolate in an otherwise rather drying finish. In three parts milk Ethan felt the floral character was muted and the acidity too assertive and out of balance; Ken, on the other hand, found the brisk cacao-and-flowers complex rather pleasing in milk.
Deeply resonant, pungent. Black currant, apricot, hints of dark chocolate and wisteria-like flowers in aroma and cup. Crisply sweet acidity; satiny mouthfeel. A slight savory edge deepens and complicates a sweet finish.
Lush, intricate, with a deep, cushiony sweetness. Lavishly complex floral notes – cherry blossom, lavender, saffron, more – complicated by mulberry, tangerine and a crisp roasted cacao nib. Round, floral-toned acidity; plush, lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor, particularly the floral notes, sustain in a long, balanced, lightly drying finish.
Quiet, vibrant, dry, deep. Butternut squash, dried peach, coconut, orange blossom, hints of earth and fir in aroma and cup. Roundly balanced, deeply expressed acidity; light but very silky mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates in a sweet though simple finish.
Rich, low-toned, gently pungent. Dark chocolate, oak, sage-like herb, spicy, nasturtium-like flowers in aroma and cup. Sweetly brisk acidity; light but plush mouthfeel. Sage and a hint of chocolate carry into a crisp finish.
Sweetly crisp, balanced. Caramel, roasted cacao nib, walnut, wisteria-like flowers, a hint of port wine in aroma and cup. Gently brisk acidity; light, crisply smooth mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates around nut, flowers and port wine suggestions in a sweet but lightly drying finish.
