Cup of Excellence Reviews

Balanced, sweetly tart. Cocoa nib, apricot, narcissus, almond, brown sugar in aroma and cup. Gentle, round acidity; crisp, syrupy mouthfeel. Finish centers around notes of cocoa nib and apricot.

Richly sweet, spice-toned. Bergamot, nectarine, almond butter, cocoa nib, star jasmine in aroma and cup. Sweet-toned structure with gently bright acidity; full, syrupy mouthfeel. Focused, juicy finish centers around notes of bergamot and cocoa nib.

Floral-toned, mult-layered, balanced. Narcissus, dark chocolate, pomegranate, frankincense, in aroma and small cup. Very syrupy-smooth mouthfeel; rich, harmonious, elongated finish. Exceptionally complex in three parts milk, where narcissus and dark chocolate notes commingle with pomegranate and frankincense.

Richly fruit-centered, deeply chocolaty. Dried mango, dark chocolate, wisteria, cedar, lemon thyme in aroma and cup in aroma and cup. Sweetly tart structure with winy acidity; plush, syrupy mouthfeel. The deep-toned finish consolidates to notes of dried mango, dark chocolate and cedar.

Delicately fruit-toned, richly sweet. Dried peach, narcissus, almond butter, marjoram, honey in aroma and cup. Brightly sweet with juicy acidity; full, syrupy mouthfeel. The harmonious finish carries forward all the notes from the aroma and cup.

Delicate, high-toned, crisply sweet-tart. Guava, pink peppercorn, cocoa nib, tangerine zest, fresh-cut oak in aroma and cup. Sweet-toned with tart-leaning, juicy acidity; delicately silky mouthfeel. The long, flavor-saturated finish centers on guava and pink peppercorn.

Crisp, delicately sweet-tart, intricately floral. Narcissus, lime zest, apricot, pipe tobacco, agave syrup in aroma and cup. Sweet-toned with lyrical, juicy acidity; silky, buoyant mouthfeel. Vermouth-like, richly dry finish.

Subtly powerful, harmoniously integrated, complete. Pineapple, nectarine, complex florals, cocoa nib, roasted pine nut in aroma and cup. Stunningly bright and expressive structure with very balanced acidity. Silky, buoyant mouthfeel. A deep, very long finish retains the grace and complexity of the cup through to the end.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a ristretto 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Distinctly chocolaty, gently and sweetly bright. Baker’s chocolate, sweet lemon zest, almond, rhododendron-like flowers, maple wood in aroma and small cup. Feathery, lightly buoyant mouthfeel; flavor consolidates but rings on in a balanced finish. Crisply sweet in three parts milk: sweet lemon and chocolate, floral hints.

Evaluated as espresso produced as a ristretto 25ml (.85-ounce) shot using a Nespresso capsule espresso brewer with whole milk heated using a conventional steam wand. Crisp, very sweet, delicately seductive. Cocoa, raisin, roasted cashew nut, sweet alyssum flowers in aroma and small cup. Light and velvety in mouthfeel; flavor consolidates but lingers in a persistent, balanced finish. Quiet but superb in three parts milk: flowers and cocoa come forward pleasingly.

High-toned, richly sweet-tart. Baker’s chocolate, hibiscus tea, floral vanilla, tangerine zest, brown sugar in aroma and cup. Sweetly bright in structure, with gentle acidity; plush, syrupy mouthfeel. The sweetly tart finish is gently drying, consolidating around notes of hibiscus tea and baker’s chocolate.

Richly sweet, floral-toned. Wisteria, roasted cacao nib, almond, caramel, hint of musk in aroma and cup. Balanced, sweetly tart structure with juicy acidity; crisply velvety mouthfeel. The finish consolidates to a pretty cocoa-toned musk in the short, with almond and caramel resurfacing in the long.

Delicately sweet-savory. Lemon zest, almond, dried apricot, cedar, honeysuckle in aroma and cup. Quietly lively acidity; lightly satiny mouthfeel. The crisply sweet finish consolidates to lemon zest and cedar in the short; honeysuckle resurfaces in the long.

Invitingly fruity and nutty. Blood orange, almond brittle, Darjeeling, sassafras in aroma and cup. Juicy and buoyant acidity; full, velvety mouthfeel. Almond and sassafras carry far into the finish.

Impressive balance of roasty pungency and gently brisk acidity. Softly scorched cedar, a distinct, complexly expressed dark chocolate, hints of blackberry and grapefruit in aroma and cup. Roast-nuanced, softly bittersweet acidity; plush mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates around dry chocolate and a hint of berry in a crisp finish.

Some pleasing chocolate, but generally dominated by a very aggressive dark roast. Heavily scorched oak, dark chocolate, hints of cashew and prune. Full, though rather rough-textured mouthfeel. Sweet dark chocolate carries into an otherwise rather cottony finish.

High-toned, sweet complexity. Vanilla, tangerine jam, honeysuckle, loquat, walnut-butter in aroma and cup. Gently tart acidity, very smooth and plump mouthfeel. Quietly resonant finish.

Crisp, lilting, lyric. Pear, cherry blossom, lavender, almond, a hint of sweet grapefruit in aroma and cup. Delicate, brisk acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Pear and flowers lead into a gentle, quietly rich finish.

Sweetly and richly pungent. Green grape, caramel, walnut, apple, honeysuckle in aroma and cup. Gently and roundly tart acidity; light but distinctly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates around caramel and apple in a quiet but long finish.

Distinctly brandy-toned, sweet yet briskly pungent. Cleanly expressed brandy, strawberry-like fruit, dark chocolate, night-blooming flowers in aroma and cup. Round, gently vibrant acidity; lightly syrupy, very buoyant and lively mouthfeel. Rich, deep, profoundly flavor-saturated finish.