When a simple coffee bean is dusted with sugar prior to roasting, the most marvelous transformation occurs. As with regular coffee roasting, the beans darken and develop a rich flavor and aroma, but unique to café torrefacto, the sugar is caramelized to form a glossy coating. Visually the coffee beans have a dark ebony color with a glass-like appearance, but inside the bean is where the magic happens. The caramelized sugar forms a flavor barrier to hold in the coffee's natural oils and flavors that would otherwise be lost in the roasting process. The result, an extra, extra dark coffee that has a more pronounced flavor without the additional bitterness that is characteristic of other dark varieties. Unique to Spain and a small handful of other Latin countries, Café torrefacto is truly an unforgettable espresso.

Torrefacto may be ground and brewed straight as an espresso, which would traditionally be served with a lemon twist in Spain, or it may be mixed with standard coffee prior to brewing to adjust the intensity of flavor.

• Torrefacto: 100% sugar-roasted beans
• Mix: 20% torrefacto, 80% Spanish dark roast coffee