Organic Reviews

Robust, strong-gestured coffee. Nut, citrus, fresh-cut fir and a deep, apricot-like sweetness in aroma and cup. The acidity is rich and complex though slightly astringent; the mouthfeel full though a little rough-textured. Rich finish with a salty-savory edge.

The dry, tartly sweet fruit sensation characteristic of the best Kenya coffees unfurls with pleasing, shape-shifting complexity: Melon, black currant, blackberry, tart orange, with floral and fresh-cut fir complications. Assertive but balanced acidity; lean mouthfeel. Smoothes out in a decidedly sweet, mango-toned finish.

Sweetly balanced and round: ripe lemon, nut-toned cocoa, a hint of honeyish flowers in aroma and cup. Soft, berry-toned acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. The cocoa carries into a sweet finish with a hint of drying astringency in the long.

Balanced, lyric coffee. Gently pungent fir rounded by fruit notes (blackberry, plum) in aroma and cup. Soft acidity; lively, lightly syrupy mouthfeel; sweet-toned, cocoaish finish. A very slight grassy or hay-like note emerges as the cup cools.

Evaluated as espresso. Rich aromatics: ripe red apple, caramel and rose-like flowers carry from the aroma into the short cup where they are deepened and complicated by hints of dark chocolate and fir. Creamy mouthfeel. Flavor mutes but gently persists in two parts milk.

Evaluated as espresso. Fresh-cut fir, cedar and orange-like citrus in the delicate aroma. Lightly syrupy body. Intense flavor: fresh-cut fir persists, complicated by a caramelly milk chocolate and a brisk walnut. Flavor carries well into a complex, resonant finish. Balanced in two parts milk; the fir sweetens and a suggestion of lemon emerges.

Crisply assertive yet delicate. Nectarine-like stonefruit, tea rose and lime zest carry into the cup, complicated by fresh-cut fir and sweet, plummy fruit notes. Floral-toned acidity; buoyantly silky mouthfeel. More flowers and tart stone fruit in the finish.

Impressively sweet-toned, bright and brandyish dried-in-the-fruit profile. Distinct blueberry notes in aroma and cup, balanced by a crisp mint and a spicy fir. Juicy, rounded acidity; syrupy but lively mouthfeel. The finish is flavor-saturated and sweet when the cup is hot; as it cools a slight salty tightness emerges.

Moist composting leaves (or maybe moist, composting rose petals) layered with a fermenty, brandyish dark chocolate in this richly pleasing but slightly bitterish traditional Sumatra. Gently tart, floral-toned acidity; silky/syrupy mouthfeel.

Very sweet; delicate but lush. Minty milk chocolate and apricot- and peach-like fruit in aroma and cup. Softly bright acidity; smoothly silky, lively mouthfeel. Round, gently resonant finish.

Deeply and dramatically complex aroma and flavor: Pineapple- and berry-like fruit, milk chocolate, hints of brandy and mint. Richly bright acidity; very smooth, silky/syrupy mouthfeel. The finish is saturated with flavor, particularly with the minty brandy notes. Turns savory as the cup cools, perhaps a bit bitter; otherwise this would be a 94-rated coffee.

Low-toned, with pungent earthy and cedary notes supporting tart citrus and strawberry. Rich acidity; syrupy but lively mouthfeel. Sweet-toned and deep in the finish.

Quiet, deep aroma and flavor with suggestions of nut-toned chocolate, peach and sweet melon. Additional complications of black tea and cedar in the cup. Rich lemony acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Fruit notes in particular carry into a complex, tartly sweet finish.

Very sweet and honeyish. Almondy nut, crisp baker’s chocolate, peach- and apricot-toned fruit in aroma and cup. Roundly gentle acidity; impressively smooth, lightly syrupy mouthfeel. The sweetness carries decisively into the finish, though a slight bitterish astringency shadows the long.

Evaluated as espresso. Elegantly sweet aroma and flavor in the short cup suggests evening flowers, almond-like nut, dark chocolate and a nectarine-like stone fruit. The stone fruit develops a bright, citrusy edge in the cup. Lively, lightly syrupy mouthfeel; citrus and chocolate carry into the finish. Pronounced presence in two parts milk; the citrus and chocolate character show up with particular clarity.

Fine balance and structure, with a layering of temperate fruit notes – apple, peach, cherry, apricot – anchored by hints of fresh-cut fir and smoky, savory spice. Delicate acidity; roundly syrupy mouthfeel. Simple but rich, sweet finish.

Sweet-toned, round, deep. Roasted nut, grapy fruit, dark chocolate, a brightening hint of lemon. Soft, muted acidity; syrupy mouthfeel; smooth finish.

Floral notes in aroma and cup anchored by hints of fresh-cut fir and citrus. Delicately crisp acidity; silky mouthfeel. Aromatically simple but deep, sweet-toned finish.

Sweet and delicately complex in aroma and cup: clover, moist pipe tobacco, nut, molasses, plum. Crisp, buoyantly lively acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Long, deep, flavor-saturated finish.

Deep, resonant with dry fruit notes. Baker’s chocolate, ripe citrus, pungently tart berry in aroma and cup. Round, syrupy mouthfeel; rich, impressively flavor-saturated finish.