This round of horizontal tasting selected five representative regional beans, all brewed by pour-over: V60 dripper, 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, water temperature around 90°C, and 92°C for light roasts. Four evaluation dimensions: dry aroma, first impression on the palate, mid-palate layers, and finish performance. The tasting notes are recorded below as a reference for bean selection.

Ethiopia Huakui, natural process, medium-light roast. The strawberry and passion fruit notes in the dry aroma rise immediately when water is poured; the palate is full of juicy fruitiness, with prominent sweetness and virtually no perceptible bitterness. Its style is directly crowd-pleasing, with bold aromatics, and the sweetness in the finish lingers long. Suitable for people who love fruity notes and fear bitterness and astringency; in the scoring dimensions, it earned a high score for aroma.

Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Red Label Geisha, light roast, washed. The dry aroma is elegant jasmine florals; on the palate, citrus and bergamot acidity and sweetness, transitioning in the mid-palate to a warm, smooth black tea-like quality, with a clean, long finish. It and Huakui are two temperaments: Huakui is intense and direct, while Geisha is restrained and refined, unfolding layer by layer. The price is also there for all to see, making it a choice for special occasions.

Kenya Little Tomato, Thika region, SL28 and SL34 varieties, double washed, light roast. The cherry tomato and smoked plum flavors on the palate are very distinct, with bright, solid acidity like freshly squeezed juice; the mid-palate has pear and black plum fruit notes, and the finish has yellow sugar sweetness and green tea aroma. Its acidity intensity is the highest among the five; people who like bright fruit acidity will love it, while those who fear acidity may find it punchy.

Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1, medium-dark roast. The palate is soft and rounded, with a complex flavor of cream, caramel, chocolate, and honey; among sweet, sour, bitter, and aromatic notes there is almost no weak point, and no single note particularly steals the show. It is the type among the five with a high ceiling for approachability; the vast majority of people will find it delicious, at the cost of a character that is not especially sharp.

Indonesia PWN Golden Mandheling, dark roast. The body is the highest of the entire lineup, with rich herbal and dark chocolate aromas, a hint of earthy character, virtually zero acidity, and a long, lingering finish. It also performs well when paired with milk as a pour-over milk coffee. A choice for heavy-flavor enthusiasts and the smoking crowd.

Comparing them yields several conclusions: in terms of aroma intensity, Huakui and Geisha lead; in terms of sweet-acid balance, Kenya has the most character; in terms of balance and drinkability, Blue Mountain is the steadiest; in terms of body and concentration, Mandheling has no equal. The five beans are actually five flavor personalities, with no hierarchy, only whether they suit you. It is suggested to match yourself according to your own taste preferences, then explore in depth from the corresponding region, which is far more efficient than trying beans like a headless fly.