This is the Yuju Mori ($10.00) from Slow Koi, a beverage built on yuzu, espresso, and rosemary.
The drink presented in a layered ombre structure, with an opaque pale yellow base gradually transitioning into deep espresso brown, topped with a lemon slice and a sprig of rosemary. Aroma opened first through rosemary, followed by floral citrus from yuzu and a roasted coffee backbone.
After stirring, initial contact delivered a vivid yuzu profile, reminiscent of jammed citrus peel and floral honey sweetness, but without rind bitterness or particulate texture. The sweetness read as rounded and syrup-like rather than sharp. Through the mid-palate, espresso notes developed and expanded the structure, adding depth and a heavier body while remaining integrated rather than dominant. The honeyed yuzu suppressed typical coffee acidity and bitterness, flattening what would normally be a sharper transition into a smoother, more unified profile. Rosemary introduced a soft pine-like aroma that intermittently cut through the sweetness, preventing the citrus from becoming overly heavy and adding an herbal grounding effect.
Aftertaste resolved into a floral-citrus finish with subdued coffee presence, where neither espresso nor yuzu fully dominated, though the citrus remained more prominent in perception. The overall profile remained smooth and cohesive, but relatively restrained in intensity.
Overall, a layered beverage with a converging citrus–coffee flavour trajectory and a smooth integration pattern, resulting in a cohesive but subdued structural impression.
This Yuju Mori was purchased from Slow Koi in Auckland, New Zealand in May 2026.