Nespresso has introduced a new bespoke coffee variety, N°20. The culmination of 20 years of research, developed with the goal of creating the ultimate cup of coffee, in response to increased demand for rare and high-quality varieties.
Since 2003, Nespresso has worked to create this Arabica coffee plant, identifying the finest Arabicas from its coffee collection catalogue, then the ideal terroir for the variety to flourish. The result is a coffee featuring orange blossom aromas and fresh citrus notes. N°20 is Q certified by the Coffee Quality Institute, an independent non-profit organisation that designates high standards of quality in the coffee industry.
Taking inspiration from farmers who have traditionally cross-planted coffee varieties to create more resilient plants, Nespresso’s experts used this common practice in their quest. Once settled on a combination which yielded this taste, the team began experimental plantings in three different countries, Colombia, Nicaragua and Indonesia, to identify the ideal environment for the variety to grow.
N°20 was found to thrive best in the soil of the Cauca and Caldas regions of Colombia. There, the coffee was grown by just 59 farmers who collectively planted and cared for one million coffee trees of this new and unique Arabica variety. The farmers who cultivated the new variety are part of the Nespresso AAA Program and were consequently paid a premium as a reward for their investment in sustainable high quality.
Nespresso Australia and New Zealand coffee ambassador, Mitch Monaghan said, “They say good things are worth waiting for, and that’s certainly the case with N°20. Twenty years of dedication has resulted in an exquisite taste unlike anything coffee-lovers have tried before. Notes of orange blossom, rich flowery and fruity aromatics and a bright, citric acidity combine to create a coffee with a rare, elegant and subtle personality.”
Explaining how to get the best flavour experience from this new variety: “I recommend serving N°20 as an espresso alongside a piece of dark chocolate. Begin by smelling the coffee, then sip to appreciate the floral profile. Next, bite the chocolate and let it melt in your mouth before taking another sip. The coffee will transform from something delicate and floral, into something rich like a piece of dark forrest cake. This is a ‘treat yourself’ coffee, rather than your everyday cup.”
N°20 is a seasonal coffee, meaning it can only be enjoyed for a limited amount of time each year. N°20 also has a limited volume. Available in Nespresso Original capsules, each sleeve (containing five coffee capsules) is priced at $20 and can be purchased online at www.nespresso.com or from Nespresso Boutiques.