Jairo Arcila EA Sugarcane Decaf

My experience

I've been brewing this on my Breville Barista Slimline using the pressurised portafilter that came with the machine. Worth noting: I don't have a grinder yet, so this was bought pre-ground rather than as beans.

It's a little pricier than the other coffees I've tried, so I went in with slightly higher expectations. Opening the bag, I got a real hit of cherry on the nose, much stronger than I expected. That fruitiness calms right down once it's in the cup, though, and gives way to a gentle chocolate flavour instead.

This is a smooth, easy-drinking coffee. No bitterness, nothing overpowering, just a pleasant, balanced cup with that subtle chocolate note coming through.

I drink both cow's milk and coconut milk, and it holds up well with either. With cow's milk, the coffee's flavour comes through nicely. With coconut milk, though, the coconut takes over a bit, and the coffee gets a little lost, so if you want to actually taste this one, I'd lean towards dairy or a milder plant milk.

I finished the cup happily and would make it again. It's the kind of coffee you can drink every day without it getting tiring; nothing shouty about it, just consistently pleasant.

It costs more than others I've bought, and while it's a genuinely nice cup, I'm not sure the price jump is fully justified compared to some of my cheaper go-tos. Good, but not dramatically better.