Blind Assessment

It is a measure of this coffee's complexity that every time I returned to the cup it provoked new adjectives. Winy (the favorite), pungent and smoky, vanilla overtones, and in the finish sweetness, prune and chocolate. The body is rather full for a Kenya, and the cup almost shockingly rich. Like all great Kenyas this one keeps shifting and building complexity from first impression through aftertaste.

Notes

Like all great Kenyas this one keeps shifting and building in complexity. Winy, pungent and smoky, vanilla overtones, and in the finish sweetness, prune and chocolate. The body is rather full for a Kenya, and the cup almost shockingly rich. Given the theme of the cupping, this Kenya is something of a ringer: Christian Waskiewicz, Alpen Sierra president and roastmaster, says it's not his best-selling coffee, but his best coffee. Alpen Sierra is a smallish, quality-oriented roasting firm fou

Who Should Drink It

The best-seller factor:Moot point, since this is not Alpen-Sierra's best-seller. One wonders why. Perhaps it's the fact that Kenya costs a bit more than most other coffees, or perhaps it's Kenya's intensity, which can be overwhelming at first sip. I hope the issue is not cost. A coffee this good is a bargain at almost any price.

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