This is the Nespresso Limited Edition Festive Black Espresso from the festive blend for Christmas 2023. The coffee was a blend, consisting mostly of fully washed Arabicas from Honduras and Uganda.
The coffee was a split roast, with the beans from Honduras and Uganda combined in the same batch for a dark roast, while the other coffees were roasted more midly for a medium roast overall. It came in a dark navy capsule adorned with a gold diamond pattern and an intensity rating of 7 out of 13.
Prepared as an espresso, following Nespresso’s recommendations, the coffee had a translucent black-brown hue, accompanied by a woody and lightly spicy aroma. When served black with a 1:1 water to espresso ratio, the coffee began with warm, roasted woody notes, complemented by subtle spicy undertones. A ripe, jammy fruitiness emerged in the body, characterized by minimal acidity. The finish introduced a moderate bitterness that lingered pleasantly in the aftertaste. Adding a dash of milk to this coffee neutralized the acidity, allowing the bitter notes to take center stage earlier in the tasting experience.
Overall, served black, this coffee achieved a harmonious balance of roasted, woody, and spiced notes, with minimal acidity—a departure from the overwhelming spice profile found in Seasonal Delight Spices Flavour from the same release, which drew unpleasant comparisons to savoury five-spice.
This Nespresso Limited Edition Festive Black Espresso contained 54 g (5.4 g x 10 capsules). It was produced in Switzerland and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2023.