2024 has been an incredible year for coffee. I easily tried more than 400 coffees, 100 roasters, 30 origins and 50 processing methods throughout the year. I featured many of them through the Pull & Pour Coffee Club and reviews on this site and Instagram. With so many coffees and such a diversity of processing methods, origins, coffee varietals, roasters, and farmers, it is almost impossible to limit my favorites to a handful. In a somewhat frivolous effort though, here are my favorites from 2024 in the order I tried them.
Benjamin Paz La Salsa Geisha
Proud Mary
Country: Honduras
One of my favorite highlights this year was one of my first—Benjamin Paz’s Geisha from Finca La Salsa in Honduras. Grown from the same Geisha lineage as some of the finest Panamanian coffees, this triple anaerobic washed Geisha was nothing short of extraordinary. Its delicate tasting notes—jasmine, apricot, black tea, and lemonade—were like a symphony in the cup.
Yemen Auction Hani Yehya Ahmed Jarma
Pull & Pour Special Release
Country: Yemen
This Yemeni coffee was one of the most unforgettable highlights of the year. Sourced from a single-producer micro-lot with just 47 pounds available, it was part of the second Yemen National Coffee Auction, and Pull & Pour was the only U.S. company to win a lot. The coffee’s rustic aromatics of pomegranate and citrus set the stage for a cup that was both vibrant and deeply complex. Its bright citrus notes, like starfruit and blood orange, balanced a heavy, enveloping mouthfeel with an earthy sweetness reminiscent of sweet pipe tobacco—a flavor profile that felt uniquely and unmistakably Yemeni.
Kenya Kamavindi Gesha
Wonderstate Coffee
Country: Kenya
This coffee from Wonderstate was truly one of the most extraordinary cups I had all year. As the only Kenyan Gesha in the world, it showcased a stunning balance of the rich, blackberry-forward profile typical of Kenyan coffees and the delicate, floral elegance that defines the Gesha variety. The tasting experience was unforgettable, with notes of blackberries, passion fruit, and jasmine creating a vibrant yet refined cup. The intricate processing method added to its complexity, making each sip feel like a rare and special moment.
Lino Rodriguez
Aviary Coffee
Country: Colombia
Aviary is the relatively new roastery of Christopher Feran and every coffee they’ve dropped has been in credible. I was fortunate to try this anaerobic washed Pink Bourbon from Colombia (and feature it in the Pull & Pour Coffee Club). It was quite the treat. The coffee had classic expressions of Pink Bourbon with notes of stone fruit and citrus as well as dense, vibrant, zingy acidity. It wass a beautiful coffee that truly had a lot of Kenyan characteristics to it.
Colombia Gesha Ricardo Silva
SEY
Country: Colombia
Everything SEY sources and roasts is outstanding and I tried a lot of their offerings this year. This Colombian Gesha was the favorite for me this year though, showcasing incredible sweetness and aromatics. Its notes of white jasmine florals, confectioners’ sugar, and tangerine created a delicate yet vibrant cup that was truly unforgettable. The QC team at SEY called it “potentially one of the best Geshas we have ever tasted out of Colombia” and I agree!
Yunnan DEHONG Yeast Fermentation Natural Process
ou·bai·tou·ri
Country: China
Discovering the roaster ou•bai•tou•ri from Japan was one of the highlights for me in 2024. Their small lot selection and roasting is incredible and they quickly became a favorite of the coffee club. I tried this Yeast Fermented natural from China twice this year and it was a treat each time. Coffee from China is difficult to find and is so unique in its taste profile.
El Paraiso Sake
Hatch
Country: Colombia
This Geisha from Hatch was one of the most dynamic coffees I enjoyed this year. It showcased the delicate beauty of the Geisha variety with vibrant notes of citronella, jasmine, grapefruit, and green tea, while adding a unique layer of depth and complexity. The fermentation washed process preserved the coffee’s original character, resulting in a cup that was both bright and intricately refined—truly unforgettable.
Pink Blossom
DAK
Country: Colombia
This washed Pink Bourbon from Huila, Colombia, was one of the brightest and most complex coffees I enjoyed this year. Its sweet citrus and floral notes, with hints of honey, grapefruit, and jasmine, made it an absolute standout. Pink Bourbon has always been a favorite, but this one set a new bar for its clarity and balance—an incredible coffee.
Kegwa AA
Manhattan
Country: Kenya
Manhattan Coffee is a favorite roaster year after year with coffees featured in my top list multiple times in the last few years. This year this washed Kenyan stood out as a true highlight. It was big and juicy with beautiful blackberry notes and encompassed so much about what I love in Kenyan coffee.
Santuario Gesha Reserva
Mikava
Country: Colombia
The Santuario Gesha Reserva was a true highlight of the year, offering a vibrant and layered cup that was nothing short of extraordinary. Its aromas of dark berry, concord grape, and syrupy botanicals led to tasting notes of orange zest, raspberry, and blackberry, with a red wine-like finish. The balance of sweetness, light florals, and complexity made one of the best Geshan coffees I’ve had in a long time.
Kamavindi Estate Kenya
April
Country: Kenya
I had my first opportunity to try April this year and was very impressed with their offerings. This washed Kenyan was my favorite though for its big body and bright acidity. As with the Manhattan Kenyan, it encompassed all that I look for in a Kenyan coffee.
Melon Creamsicle
Colorfull
Country: Colombia
This was the most unique coffee of the set and really made my top list simply because I had never experienced any coffee like it. It truly tasted like a melon creamsicle in a strange and wonderful way. It wouldn’t be a daily drinker, but was an excellent example of what is possible with processing to create a unique, but still absolutely delicious final cup.
Caballeriza Gesha
Corvus
Country: Panama
I always have at least one Panama Gesha on my top list because they are simply some of the best coffee you can find. This one from Corvus and Hacienda La Esmeralda was truly one of the most complex and exciting cups of coffee I had all year.
Aquiares Flower Culture
Kaffeelix
Country: Costa Rica
I end the top list this year with a coffee from Austrian roaster, Kaffeelix, grown at Aquiares in Costa Rica. Aquiares is especially special to me because I got to visit it in November of this year with my family. I actually tried this coffee before visiting though and was blown away. This coffee was processed with one of the most unique processing methods I’ve ever tried—an anaerobic flower culture where they ferment the coffee with flower blooms from the same coffee tree—which resulted in a beautifully floral, yet sweet & fruit-forward coffee.
It’s tempting to keep adding more coffees to this list because narrowing it down to just a few is no easy task. Reflecting on the past year, though, I’ve been fortunate to experience some truly exceptional brews. Here’s to savoring even more remarkable coffees in 2025—I can hardly wait!
