In 2015, we began the practice of recognizing top coffees by category to focus attention on fine coffees that may not have earned a place on our Top 30 Coffees list. The coffees below may not have attracted the highest scores of the year but they merit recognition for their excellence nonetheless. For more information, visit our expanded rankings post from 2015.
We are pleased to recognize the following outstanding coffees that are among the most exciting in their categories:
Central America – Non-Geisha
No. 19 – Collage Coffee, Cordillera del Fuego Costa Rica Anaerobic – 93 points
No. 24 – Klatch Coffee, Panama Elida Natural Catuai – 95 points
No. 26 – Cafe Grumpy, Honduras Las Flores Parainema – 94 points
Alternative Africas (i.e. Not Ethiopia and Kenya)
No. 5 – Flight Coffee Co., Tanzania Ngorongoro Ridge Peaberry – 95 points
No. 29 – Jackrabbit Java, Rwanda Nyarusiza Station – 93 points
NR – JBC Coffee Roasters, Kivu CR Congo – 94 points
Asia-Pacific
No. 7 – JBC Coffee Roasters, Harimau Tiger Sumatra – 96 points
No. 23 – Peach Coffee Roasters, Sumatra Lintong – 95 points
NR – Notch Coffee, Boru Batak Sumatra – 94 points
South America
No. 3 – PT’s Coffee Roasting Co., Cafe Granja La Esperanza Sudan Rume Natural – 95 points
NR – Greater Goods Coffee Roasters, Peru La Salina – 93 points
NR – Coava Coffee Roasters, Santa Luzia Brazil – 93 points
Darker Roasts
No. 4 – Simon Hsieh’s Aroma Roast Coffees, Costa Rica SL-28 Yellow Honey Espresso – 95 points
NR – Simon Hsieh’s Aroma Roast Coffees, Indonesia Sumatra Gayo Espresso – 94 points
NR – Mystic Monk Coffee, Easter Sunrise Blend – 92 points
Decafs
No. 27 – Paradise Roasters, Moonbow Decaf, 92 points
NR – Paradise Roasters, Moonbow Decaf Espresso, 91 points
Certified Fair-Trade or Organic
No. 21 – Amavida Coffee Roasters, Espresso Mandarina – 94 points
NR – Red Rooster Coffee Roaster, Ethiopia Nansebo Worka – 95 points
NR – Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea, Ethiopia Hambela Natural Organic, 94 points
Single-Origin Espressos
NR – JBC Coffee Roasters, Rukera Espresso (Kenya) – 97 points
No. 4 – Simon Hsieh’s Aroma Roast Coffees, Costa Rica SL-28 Yellow Honey Espresso – 95 points
No. 25 – Kakalove Cafe, El Salvador Cerro Las Ranas Honey Espresso – 94 points
Non-Espresso Blends
NR – Thanksgiving Coffee, Mocha Java Blend Fair Trade Organic, 92 points
NR – Barrington Coffee, Trilogy, 92 points
NR – Mystic Monk Coffee, Easter Sunrise Blend – 92 points
Espresso Blends
No. 21 – Amavida Coffee Roasters, Espresso Mandarina – 94 points
No. 22 – Greybox Coffee, Australian Blend Espresso – 95 points
No. 28 – Hirewire Coffee Roasters, The Core Espresso – 94 points
Best Values – Espressos
No. 21, Amavida Coffee Roasters, Espresso Mandarina, 94 points – $16.95/12 oz.
NR – Paradise Roasters, Espresso Classico, 93 points – $12.95/12 oz.
NR – Propeller Coffee (Canada), Ace Espresso, 93 points ~ US $13.53/12 oz.
NR – Red Rooster Coffee Roaster, Old Crow Cuppa Joe, 93 points – $13.99/12 oz.
Best Values – Non-Espressos
No. 6 – Dragonfly Coffee Roasters, Kenya Karindundu AA Small Lot Reserve, 97 points – $20.00/12 oz.
No. 7 – JBC Coffee Roasters, Harimau Tiger Sumatra, 96 points – $17.20/12 oz.
No. 23 – Peach Coffee Roasters, Sumatra Lintong, 95 points – $16.99/12 oz.
No. 27 – Paradise Roasters, Moonbow Decaf, 92 points – $13.95/12 oz.
No. 29 – Jackrabbit Java, Rwanda Nyarusiza Station, 93 points – $12.00/12 oz.
NR – Dragonfly Coffee Roasters, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Chelelktu Natural, 96 points – $18.00/12 oz.
NR – Jackrabbit Java, Panama Finca San Sebastian, 94 points – $12.00/12 oz.
