Exploring "Classic" Espresso Blends: North American Roasters

Evaluated as espresso. High-toned, sweetly tart; Bing cherry, dark chocolate, tangerine zest, honeysuckle, a hint of fine pipe tobacco in aroma and small cup. Full, syrupy mouthfeel; earthy-sweet finish. In cappuccino-scaled milk, dark chocolate is amplified, as are deep florals, while tart fruit notes round.

Evaluated as espresso. Deeply chocolaty, richly floral. Chocolate fudge, lilac, peach, fresh-cut cedar, hazelnut butter in aroma and small cup. Crisp, satiny-smooth mouthfeel; the deep, long, resonant finish maintains all of the aroma and flavor notes from the cup. Also profoundly satisfying in three parts milk, with chocolate and florals in a slow dance and fruit returning to the surface in the long finish.

Evaluated as espresso. Spice-toned, fruit-forward. Dried raspberry, cinnamon, dark chocolate, almond butter, narcissus in aroma and small cup. Crisp, satiny texture; resonant, flavor-saturated finish. In three parts milk, balanced and chocolaty, with lingering spice notes.

Evaluated as espresso. Richly sweet, fruit-toned and chocolaty. Dark chocolate, dried cherry, fresh-cut fir, almond blossom, molasses in aroma and small cup. Full, satiny-smooth mouthfeel; flavor-saturated finish driven by chocolate and stone fruit notes. This blend sings in milk, elevating notes of both cherry and chocolate in lasting vibrancy.

Evaluated as espresso. Deeply cocoa- and nut-toned, brightly fruit-forward. Cocoa powder, caramel, almond butter, dried black cherry, myrrh in aroma and small cup. Velvety mouthfeel, crisp, chocolaty and nut-toned finish. The milk shot leads with notes of black cherry and cocoa powder, supported by rich aromatic wood and almond butter.

Evaluated as espresso. Classically cocoa-toned and sweetly tart. Nutella, pink peppercorn, pomegranate, molasses, magnolia in aroma and small cup. Creamy-smooth body; short but resounding finish. The milk shot is lush and fudgelike, with undertones of pomegranate and magnolia.

Evaluated as espresso. Balanced, richly bittersweet. Baker’s chocolate, dried apricot, hop flowers, sandalwood, hazelnut butter in aroma and cup. Plush, creamy mouthfeel; bright, fruit-forward finish. In milk, crisp chocolate notes envelope notes of stone fruit and bittersweet florals in the short, with rich aromatic wood tones resurfacing in the long.