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.
Sweet, delicately crisp. Dark chocolate, brown sugar, hints of plum and fresh-cut cedar in aroma and cup. Tartly juicy acidity; the mouthfeel is light, hinting at silkiness. Chocolate carries into a gently drying finish.
Delicate, fresh, balanced. Nut-toned caramel, orange, fir, a hint of flowers in aroma and cup. Gently bright, lemony acidity; smoothly silky mouthfeel. The simple but pleasing aromatics carry straight through to a long, sweet, slightly pungent finish.
Intense aromatic complex carries in layered richness from aroma to finish. Cocoa, moist earth and leather, plum, sweetly pungent grapefruit; but you will doubtless find more. Crisp, integrated acidity; buttery mouthfeel. Long, sweet-toned, flavor-saturated finish.
Deep, sweet-toned aroma: dark chocolate, rich cedar, apricot-like fruit, lily-like flowers. Rich though slightly rough acidity; impressively full, syrupy mouthfeel. The complex aromatics simplify a bit in the cup, but retain depth and resonance. Long though rather dry and piney finish.
Crisp, bittersweet: lemon, bergamot, dark chocolate, a hint of flowers. Brisk, dry acidity; silky mouthfeel. Flavors linger in the long, dry finish.
oft notes of nut and baking spice with a suggestion of dusk flowers in the aroma, deepening and complicating in the cup. Quiet but rich acidity, lightly syrupy mouthfeel. In the finish flavor fades rather quickly toward a mild astringency.
Notes of pipe tobacco, cherry and pungent aromatic wood in the aroma. Simplifies slightly in the cup, with continued aromatic wood and hints of baker's chocolate and nut. Pungent, roast-toned, softly astringent finish.
Evaluated as espresso. In the small cup impressively deep and complex. Co-taster Andy Newbom (92) cited the range and balance of sensation ("intense yet nuanced"; "awesome"); Ken (92) was more specific in his praise of a pungent, slightly savory fruit: "black currant, blackberry, aromatic wood, licorice." Maintains complexity in four parts milk: "chocolaty... completely malty" (Andy), "crisp, butterscotch and caramel" (Ken).
In the aroma orangy citrus, molasses, nut, black currant. In the cup richly tart acidity, lightly syrupy body, and shifting, complex flavor: pungent aromatic wood, black currant, blackberry, ripe citrus, molasses. All saturate the long, resonant finish with an exquisite dematerialized essence of flavor.