Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Over the yrs, I have done a deep dive into coffee in a quest to make the perfect espresso. It has been a close 2nd obsession to my wine journey.

Pacori has come very close, closest. They make many different roasts but their “Select” is the best I’ve had and I have tried many different beans to get here.

Pacori guarantees you will have their beans within 5 days of roasting. Many sellers don’t put a roast date on their beans. Starbucks, Peet’s, illy etc. might be 30-60 days from roast date or more before you buy them. Grocery stores, longer. Fresh beans make a difference. I would rather my beans haven’t been oxidizing that long before I buy them.

Pacori offers many roasts but I like that they will do sampler 4 packs…a 1/4 pound of each you select from. Their “Select” is a perfect balance of bold and smooth. Bold darkish espresso tones w/ notes of nuts, mocha powder, milk chocolate and caramel.

I have narrowed my selections to their “Select” and “Sumatra.” Next might be their “French Roast” and then their “Black Crest.” But they are all good. Finding your wheelhouse is a pleasurable journey.

Like grapes, same as coffee, you can’t make a good bottle-cup w/o good fruit/beans.

Ranking the most important elements of making good espresso:

-Quality beans that are fresh
-Grinder
-Machine/Barista skills
-Adding a 49mm step down baskets to your standard 58mm portafilter. There is real science now that 49mm basket makes superior shots.

After waking up, this is just the best part of my morning. — 15 days ago

Muralee Murugesu

8.9

Light bodied barista blend but too young and green. — 9 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2024 | modern made pinotage: vanilla, fruit and coffee. Elegance. Basic wine with incredible good p/q. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

91 on its own. With my Mother’s old fashion sour cream coffee cake a 9.2

We had it with the N/V Bollinger & Laurent but, the Laurent was the better pair. Not necessarily the better Champange.

One of the best things about the coffee cake is you can enjoy it as dessert and/or with my Barista whole Milk Lattes w/ Cat N Cloud “The Answer“ beans. Something to look forward to!!!!

$18 375ml’s at Costco. Stocked up. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Allison Rich

8.9

Mocha and coffee notes. Surprisingly rich and bold. Not as good as the 2011 Barista which is a similar wine, but quite tasty and drinkable. — 9 years ago

Helen Pace

9.5

Beautiful merlot infused with pure extracts of coffee and chocolate. Bold and rich with notes of caramel and burnt sugar. Sweet enough to serve alone for dessert or pair with dark chocolate. — 10 years ago

Amit Srivastava

9.3

After the 2000 C-d-P and ‘98 barista ballet shiraz , this wine seemed younger and a bit of a fruit Bomb .
On it’s own stood really well. Big and structured wine. — 4 years ago

with Gunja

Aaron Tan

9.0

Great dilineation. As the label tells us, chocolate. Missed out on coffee. Would drink again 👍 — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is another NEW wine for 2016 "Kenefick Ranch." I don't know if Delectable can fix this yet. On the nose, dark muted currants, black licorice, loamy soils, black berries, blueberries, plums, vanilla, dark chocolate and caramel. M+ sticky tannins...it's a big wine. Dark currants, good spice, black licorice, baking spices, blackberries, blueberries, olallieberries, huckleberries, dark cherries, strawberry preserves, loamy soils, crushed rocks, dry stones, leather, star anise, tarry notes, dry stems, liquid red florals, black cherry licorice/cola, volcanic minerals. The finish is; rich, lush, juicy, round and ripe fruits with tannins that soften in the long finish. Photos of the use of a barrel tap device and people finishing up at the barista station. — 9 years ago