Central America Reviews

Evaluated as espresso. Ken (93) and his co-taster (88) went rather different ways on this deep, sweet, brandyish, lightly herby dried-in-the-fruit profile. Ken enjoyed the overripe, fermenty fruit notes in aroma and cup; his co-taster was not greatly impressed. Both had good things to say about the mouthfeel (co-taster: “huge and enveloping”); on the other hand, neither were impressed by the rather astringent finish. Ken admired the impact in three parts milk (“juicy and rich”) more than did his co-taster, who found it pleasantly berryish but a bit too tart.

Evaluated as espresso. Ken (91) and his co-taster (91) recorded identical scores and very similar readings for this lively, balanced espresso: in aroma and flavor sweetly tart fruit (orange, lemon, kiwi) rounded by flowers for Ken and “sweet pea” for the co-taster; smooth, lightly syrupy mouthfeel; most impressively a very sweet finish with chocolate and cinnamon suggestions. Delicately chocolaty in three parts milk (“pure milk chocolate” according to the co-taster).

Evaluated as espresso. Ken (92) showed considerably more enthusiasm for this intense dried-in-the-fruit profile than his only mildly respectful co-taster (89). The co-taster associated the usual fermented fruit notes with wine and spiced cider, Ken with bourbon whisky (which he likes). The co-taster found the fermented fruit notes complicated by “sweet hay and malt,” Ken by a more decisive “fresh-cut cedar.” Ken rated the lightly syrupy, perhaps buttery mouthfeel a bit higher than did his co-taster. Both found the shot pleasantly chocolaty in three parts milk, additionally nuanced by malt for the co-taster, by cedar for Ken.

Balanced structure, complex and rather unusual aromatics. Orangy citrus, butter, roasted nut, lush flowers, a hint of sweet chocolate in aroma and cup. Crisp, juicy acidity; lightly syrupy, lively mouthfeel. The finish is gently rich, buttery, sweet-toned.

Pungent, deep, richly sweet. Aromatic wood (cedar, oak), flowers, plum, dark chocolate in aroma and cup. Round, resonant acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates in a deep though slightly drying finish.

Delicate, complex, refreshing. Flavor-saturated aroma, balanced structure. Flowers, butterscotch, roasted cacao nib and an intriguing note suggesting rye whisky in aroma and cup. Smooth acidity; silky mouthfeel. Rich, flavor-nuanced finish.

Gentle, balanced, quietly complex. Spicy, rose-like flowers, fresh-cut fir, hazelnut, a hint of nut-toned chocolate in aroma and cup. Softly bright acidity; lightly plush mouthfeel. The chocolate and spicy floral notes in particular carry into a smooth finish.

Evaluated as espresso. Intricate and lush; tartly sweet. Caramel, hibiscus and rose, candied ginger, honeydew melon in aroma and small cup. Lean though smooth mouthfeel. Floral notes in particular carry into a remarkably long, complex finish. Flavor carries intact into two parts milk, where a hint of grapefruity acidity is juxtaposed with the milky sweetness.

Intensely and extravagantly aromatic. Lavender, honey, mango, crisp roasted cocoa nib in aroma and cup. Brisk, delicately tart acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor carries deep into a long, balanced finish.

Crisply sweet-toned, delicately pungent. Honeysuckle, fresh-cut cedar, walnut, black currant in aroma and cup. Balanced, gently brisk acidity; silky mouthfeel. Hints of flavor carry into a sweetly balanced finish.

Rose-like flowers, honey, sweet chocolate, almond, a hint of fresh-cut fir in aroma and cup. Delicate, crisply sweet acidity; very smooth, silky mouthfeel. Excellent flavor persistence in a clean, rich finish.

Complex, with a savory-sweet depth. Roasted cocoa-nib, jasmine, cedar, honey, orange zest in aroma and cup. Bright, bittersweet acidity; light but very silky mouthfeel. Citrus and floral notes in particular persist in a crisp but resonant finish.

Sweetly and pleasantly tart. Honey, orange zest, lily-like flowers, apricot in aroma and cup. Tart, juicy acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. The tart sensation carries into a richly dry finish.

Quiet, sweetly crisp. Honey, milk chocolate, nut, a hint of night-blooming flowers in aroma and cup. Soft, gently juicy acidity; balanced mouthfeel. Nut and chocolate carry into a sweet-toned finish.

Delicate but lush; piercingly sweet. Honey, jasmine-like flowers, tangelo-like citrus, hints of chocolate and fresh-cut fir in aroma and cup. Lyric, flower-saturated acidity; full but lively mouthfeel. The tangelo note in particular resonates inside immense sweetness in the finish.

Intricate, richly pungent: chocolate fudge, spicy oak, wild berry, faint mango-like fruit and night-blooming flowers in aroma and cup. Soft, sweetly tart acidity; full velvety mouthfeel. The finish is berry-toned, with a rounded chocolaty sweetness.

Hazelnut and a tangerine-like citrus are enveloped in a milk chocolate sweetness in aroma and cup. Crisp, delicate acidity; light but very smoothly silky mouthfeel. Sweet, rich, though rather drying in the finish.

Evaluated as espresso. In the small cup, richly and roundly bright without sharpness. Orange, apricot, dark chocolate, hints of fir and night-blooming flowers. Body is medium in weight but impressively velvety in texture. Flavor carries nicely into a sweet finish. In two parts milk delicately and briskly chocolaty with backgrounded hints of fir and fruit.

Round, sweet-toned, balanced. Apricot, orange, caramel, lily-like flowers and a hint of chocolate in aroma and cup. Softly tart acidity; plush mouthfeel. The chocolate hint in particular comes forward in a slightly drying finish.

Intense, heady blueberry and lush, lily-like flowers with deepening suggestions of cedar and brandy in aroma and cup, and a savory hint in the cup. Impressive structure: sweet-toned acidity; full syrupy mouthfeel. The finish is sweet and blueberry-toned with a continuing savory edge.