Decaf Espresso - Peru Norandino

Brewed a double shot this morning and the crema was surprisingly thick for a decaf, with that clean, balanced finish you expect from highland beans. I've tried plenty of decafs that taste flat, but this one from Cajamarca holds its own, especially in a cortado.

The washed processing really comes through in the cup—it’s clean and balanced, with none of that flat, dull edge I usually get from decaf. This one from Cajamarca holds up beautifully with milk, which is my daily test, and it passed.

I’ve tried a lot of decafs that taste flat, but this Peru Norandino holds its own as a straight espresso—the balanced cup from those Cajamarca highlands comes through with real depth, no harshness. Pulled a double this morning and it was smooth enough to drink black, which is rare for me with decaf.