I reviewed a preship sample of this coffee last year, and I'm glad to say it's arrived virtually unscathed. In the meantime, this coffee has become quite well known. At this year's USBC, many of the competing baristas, including Heather Perry and two other finalists, used this coffee as part of their blends. In this case, I really don't have to think very hard to tell you it works for espresso.

Compared to the preship, the coffee has gained a little in complexity but lost a little in sweetness. The finish is just a touch more bitter than the preship's; but to compensate, these bitters form a veritable orchestra in the taste. Orange peel, cardamom and a good oak stand out in particular. As with the preship, this is a very clean coffee, with no hints of mushroom, and only a little forest.

Dry fragrance: 3.5
Wet Aroma: 4.0
Flavor: 8.5
Finish: 7.0
Acidity: 7.0
Body: 8.5
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TOTAL (subtotal + 50): 88.5

• Lighter Roasts: Complex bitters: cardamom, orange peel, oak.
• Darker Roasts: As it gets darker, more molasses comes through.
• As Espresso: Grind very fine on its own; a champion as a the bottom end of a blend.