Top-Rated Coffees (94+ points)

High-toned, tropical, exquisitely balanced. Orange blossom, cocoa nib, guava, young ginger, cedar in aroma and cup. Juicy-bright yet delicate acidity; silky-smooth mouthfeel. Long, resonant finish that fulfills the promise of the cup.

Complex, richly nuanced. Narcissus, cocoa nib, pear, wild honey, amber in aroma and cup. Invigorating, malic acidity; full, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. Very long-lasting, floral-toned, richly sweet finish.

Fruit-driven, richly floral. Boysenberry, lilac, cocoa nib, honey, cedar in aroma and cup. Winy acidity; plush, syrupy mouthfeel. Fruity, floral finish with undertones of cocoa nib, cedar and honey.

Bright, richly sweet-tart. Bing cherry, pink grapefruit zest, magnolia, cocoa nib, maple syrup in aroma and cup. Juicy structure with high-toned acidity; crisp, silky mouthfeel. The lingering finish fulfills the promise of the cup, complex and satiating.

Juicy-bright, sweetly tart. Red plum, tamarind, almond, tangerine zest, agave syrup in aroma and cup. Citrusy, high-toned acidity; very full, satiny-smooth mouthfeel. Tangerine zest and agave syrup lead in the resonant finish.

Elegantly fruit-forward, richly aromatic. Strawberry guava, lychee, cocoa nib, amber, ginger blossom in aroma and cup. Brightly sweet, gently tart, balanced acidity; vibrant, silky-smooth mouthfeel. Harmonious, resonant, coherent finish.

Evaluated as espresso. Richly sweet, deep-toned. Date, pomegranate, chocolate fudge, gently scorched cedar, tangerine zest in aroma and small cup. Plush, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel; chocolaty, sweetly tart finish. In cappuccino format, pomegranate notes stand up to milk and chocolate lingers on and on.

Balanced, juicy, bright. Dried cherry, sassafras, honey, almond, freesia in aroma and cup. Briskly sweet acidity; plush, syrupy mouthfeel. Very long, deeply aromatic finish that carries over all the flavor notes from the cup.

Impressively floral-toned, berry driven. Black raspberry, magnolia, marjoram, tangerine zest, amber in aroma and cup. Tart-leaning but balanced acidity; full, syrupy mouthfeel. Exceptionally floral finish supported by berry and tangerine notes.

Bright, juicy, balanced. Apricot, almond butter, star jasmine, bergamot, cedar in aroma and cup. Sparkling, vibrant acidity; plush, syrupy mouthfeel. Long, flavor-saturated finish that extends the promise of the cup.

Evaluated as espresso. Richly chocolaty, deeply sweet-savory. Black cherry, hop flowers, magnolia, date, hint of teriyaki in aroma and small cup. Creamy mouthfeel; floral finish with savory undertones. In cappuccino format, savory impulses are all but subsumed in sweet floral notes.

Gently aromatic, multi-layered. Candycap mushroom, rhododendron, lilac, cocoa nib, lychee in aroma and cup. Even-keeled, juicy acidity; very full, satiny-smooth mouthfeel. Umami finish akin to candycap mushroom with pleasing undertones of cocoa nib.

Delicately sweet-tart, subtly nuanced. Cocoa nib, raspberry jam, lemon balm, nougat, ginger blossom in aroma and cup. High-toned, balanced acidity; silky, viscous mouthfeel. Finish consolidates to cocoa-toned raspberry with hints of ginger blossom.

Evaluated as espresso. Complex, multi-toned. Chocolate fudge, black cherry, almond blossom, sandalwood, pipe tobacco in aroma and small cup. Full, syrupy mouthfeel; very sweet, chocolaty finish. In three parts milk, richly complex with wide-ranging floral and fruit notes, all supported by deep chocolate.

Bright, juicy, richly sweet-savory. Black currant, shiitake mushroom, amber, lilac, Meyer lemon zest in aroma and cup. High-toned, apple-like acidity; full, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. Citrusy, floral finish.

Multi-layered, richly complex. Pomegranate, dried pineapple, cocoa nib, marjoram, wisteria in aroma and cup. Briskly sweet, fruity acidity; full, creamy-smooth mouthfeel. Long, resonant, flavor-laden finish.

Deeply chocolaty, floral-toned. Dark chocolate, lilac, hazelnut butter, apricot, tangerine in aroma and cup. Balanced, bright acidity; plush, syrupy mouthfeel. The finish leads with notes of lilac and dark chocolate.

Evaluated as espresso. Co-taster John DiRuocco and Ken both found a sweetly tangy intrigue animating this plush, satiny bodied espresso, and rewarded it with 95s. Ken called it rich pistachio; John favored musky, mango-like tropical fruit. For both tasters, the pistachio/mango notes impressively sweetened and moved forward in three parts milk.

Evaluated as espresso. Sweet grapefruit and orange blossom notes shimmer inside a deeply expressed chocolate in aroma and cup. Velvety mouthfeel. Ken and co-taster John DiRuocco shared parallel descriptors and the same 95-point enthusiasm for this poised, resonantly finishing espresso. Floral-toned chocolate with a continued grapefruit hint graces three parts milk.

Evaluated as espresso. This was Ken’s favorite in the tasting; he had it at 96 with a 10 for aroma. Co-taster John DiRuocco was a bit less enthusiastic at 94. The difference may have been their reading of the striking floral herb notes. Ken experienced them as exhilarating sweet lavender while John read them as a pleasant but drier eucalyptus. But both overall admired this sweetly citrusy, walnut-toned, brightly chocolaty espresso whose character resonates through the finish and retains character impressively in three parts milk.