Readers' Nominations: Trends and Successes

Delicate, with crisp, exhilarating aromatics. Roasted cocoa nib, complexly layered flowers (lilac, lily, more), ripe grapefruit, a hint of cedar in aroma and sweet-toned cup. Lively, gently bright acidity; light but buoyantly plush mouthfeel. The short finish is rather drying and simple, but flavor and sweetness reassert themselves in a long finish that rings on and on.

Achieves a fine balance of chocolate-toned coffee notes with deep, resonant wine-associated notes – grapy fruit, oak – that presumably reflect the influence of the wine-barrel conditioning of the green coffee. The sensory depth and complexity achieved by this interaction takes this coffee far beyond novelty to something quite original and authentic. Balanced, rich acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. The complex flavor if anything deepens in a finish that balances sweetness with a pleasantly drying hint.

Bright and exhilaratingly complex. Jasmine-like flowers, tangerine, raspberry, a hint of hazelnut in aroma and cup. Sweetly tart, floral-toned acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Gently dry, quietly flavor-saturated finish.

Sweetly pungent, intense. Molasses, fresh-cut cedar, grapefruit, and a sweet-toned fresh earth note in aroma and cup. Rich, lively acidity; silky mouthfeel. Long, richly flavor-saturated finish.

Pungent dry berry and sweet, fragrant flowers in aroma and cup. Rich, deep acidity; silky mouthfeel. Flavor consolidates but retains richness in a gently drying finish.

Crisply dry, delicately complex. Ripe lemon, lilac-like flowers, honey, grape, a hint of baker’s chocolate in aroma and cup. Gently tart acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor carries with little loss of complexity into a long, impressive finish.

Bright, crisp, floral. Sweet flowers (honeysuckle, narcissus), honey, tart tangerine, roasted cocoa nib in aroma and cup. Bright, nuanced acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Very soft, gently flavor-saturated finish.

Juicy, crisp. Rich, brandy-toned blueberry, almond, honeysuckle, roasted cocoa nib in aroma and cup. Gently bright acidity; lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor carries well into a surprisingly sweet, balanced finish.

Bright, sweet, richly floral-toned. Honey, rose-like flowers, fresh-cut fir, zesty tangerine in aroma and cup. Sweetly tart acidity; lightly syrupy, very lively mouthfeel. Long, honey-toned finish.

Delicately lush, complex. Honey, prairie flowers, roasted cocoa nib, a hint of cinnamon bark in aroma and cup. Crisp but juicy acidity; syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor simplifies but the sweet, honey-toned finish still pleases.

Distinct dark chocolate, cedar, roasted nut, raisin and a hint of lily-like flowers in aroma and cup. Soft, rounded acidity; silky mouthfeel. Sweet and chocolaty though mildly astringent finish.