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Cherrybook.
Modcup Coffee

Karatu SL28 Washed

Terroir Series

WashedLight

Cherrybook Index

69Noted

Evidence-of-quality score, not a cup score. Preliminary: 3 of 7 signals on file. Methodology

Price position

$3.13/oz$27.50 for 249g

Typical band for this profile $2.60 to $4.16 (Kenya washed single-origin lots (other named varieties, retail bags); USD listings; light roast in stock). Where it sits

Catalog summary

A washed lot from Kiambu, Kenya, indexed 69 on preliminary evidence and priced inside the typical band for its listed profile.

Based on the listing and catalog evidence

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Price and availability set by the roaster.

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Cherrybook last checked this listing 6 days ago.

Roaster’s notes

blackcurrant · apricot · elderflower

  • Fruit
  • Floral
Open the flavor wheel

Mapped from the roaster’s tasting notes to the SCA flavor wheel; Cherrybook’s interpretation of the stated notes, not the roaster’s own categorization.

Karatu SL28 Washed by Modcup Coffee
Farm / Co-op
—
Process
Washed
Altitude
1850–1883 m
Varietals
Sl28
Harvest
—
Weight
249g
Bag price
$27.50
Price / oz
$3.13/oz
Brew
filter

from the roaster’s storeread by Cherrybook from the listing“estimated” below = inferred, not stated

Price contextmodeled

A modeled range and current prices for comparable listings.

$3.13/oz

typically $2.60 to $4.16

Where it sits

42 Kenya washed single-origin lots (other named varieties, retail bags); USD listings; light roast in stock

typical band this lot

88th percentile of 42 Kenya washed single-origin lots (other named varieties, retail bags); USD listings; light roast in stock right now.

What moves this price

cheaper×1.00pricier
  • Roaster brand and sourcing×1.37
  • Kenya origin×1.08
  • Light roast×1.06
  • Washed process×0.95
How this estimate works

A statistical model, refit weekly across the in-stock catalog, estimates what a coffee with these listed attributes typically sells for per ounce. Each multiplier compares one trait against the average lot in this market; the roaster line covers brand and sourcing together, which this model cannot separate. Bag size is shown separately, priced at the rate observed across sizes of the same coffee, because it says nothing about the coffee itself. The distribution counts every in-stock listing in the comparison group, with at least 15 listings from three roasters and no roaster supplying more than 60% of it. Decaf, blends, variety segments, processing families and bag formats stay separate. Origin, roast and selling currency can broaden as the group label indicates. Prices are converted to USD per ounce; shipping and differences in tax treatment are not adjusted. The model reads listed attributes only: the quality of the specific lot in the bag is not observable, so a price above the typical band is not evidence of overpricing.

Cherrybook Index (CBI)

Evidence-of-quality score, not a cup score. Methodology

69

Noted

Preliminary

Confidence3 of 7 signals on file

Score is partially shrunk toward a neutral 50; read directionally until more source families land.

How confidence affects the score

Coverage measures signal availability, not cup quality. This coffee has 33% of the signal universe on file. Missing sources are dropped, remaining weights are renormalized, and the result is shrunk toward a neutral 50 baseline by 18% so one thin signal cannot carry the score on its own.

The math on file: renormalized base 76.5 shrunk to 71.9 + bonuses = 69.

Missing: SCA grade, Coffee Review, On-shop ratings, Cherrybook ratings

  • YouTube reviews
    Sentiment from third-party YouTube reviewer mentions
    85/ 30% weight
  • Reddit sentiment
    Sentiment across specialty-coffee discussion
    75/ 55% weight
  • Roaster transparency
    Producer / farm / lot disclosure depth
    65/ 15% weight

Bonuses applied

  • Sprudge press coverage
    This roaster has been featured by Sprudge
    +2
  • Stale-stock demotion
    This lot has been listed in stock for an extended time; specialty coffee freshness degrades over weeks
    +-5

Sensory profileestimated

Acidity
5
Body
3
Sweetness
4
Balance
4
Clean
5

Comps & alternatives

Tasting flight

Compare this with three more lots selected from the catalog.

Brew a set side-by-side. The picks vary along axes that pair with this lot; origin, process, roast, or producer; so you learn the difference, not just drink four good cups.

Build the flight

Reference · About the varietal & origin

About Modcup Coffee

Community reputation · Reddit

Well-regarded· sentiment 75/100

One thread author lists Modcup among new-to-them roasters tried in 2025. Another thread author states they really liked the co-ferments from Modcup and are a big fan of producer Edinson Argote after having them.

co-ferments
Threads cited (2)
  • r/pourover · 11↑ · 60+ Coffees in 2025

    …liday season trying different 2 cup recipes and grind settings on my ZP6. A few new to me roasters this year: 1. The Source (my new favorite) 2. Hydrangea 3. Modcup My top 3 coffee shops I visited this year: 1. Nordic Brew Lab (Malmo, Sweeden) 2. The Source (Edinburgh, Scotland) 3. Cafe Apotek (Quebec City, Canada) Th

  • r/pourover · 8↑ · This was insanely good - should I try the Sidra too??

    Im a big fan of Edinson Argote after having the co-ferments from Modcup which I really liked. Keep seeing this roaster pop up so I grabbed a bag since I recognized the producer, and holy shit. Might be one of my favorite new top 5 coffees. Not sure what I was expecting but it’s not like anything I’ve had before The bea

Press · Sprudge

On YouTube

Meet the roaster on camera

4 videos

About the roasterShop tour

From Coffee Cart to 4 Cafes

Moii · 3.5K views on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

This video covers Modcup Coffee; it is general roaster coverage.

Cherrybook summary of the video

This video traces the history of Jersey City-based Modcup Coffee from its origins as a coffee cart and garage roasting operation to its current multi-cafe footprint. Founder Travis shares the DIY beginnings of building out their first spaces, utilizing propane-powered espresso machines in the early days, and building relationships with origins like Ethiopia.

Inside this video

From Moii:

“We're based in Jersey City, the lovely dirty Jersey with these magical buildings as you can see behind us here. I wasn't always in coffee. I used to sell artwork for like 10 years of my life.”
“I owned a specialty coffee roasting company called Modcup Coffee. We're based in Jersey City.”
“And so we, yeah, basically ran roasting out here for 18 months before we moved on to another garage.”

Explore the videos

Across the coverage of Modcup Coffee

Reviewers and video features characterize Modcup Coffee as a fiercely independent, Jersey City-based micro-roastery that grew from humble beginnings of mobile carts and garage operations into a multi-cafe footprint. Outside coverage highlights their uncompromising freshness mantra, where founders assert that the vast majority of commercial coffee is stale and emphasize roasting in micro-batches every few days. Furthermore, creator coverage illustrates their active role in the broader coffee community, serving as an educational hub and roasting destination for passionate newcomers and specialty microlots.

Jersey City roots and DIY origins · Extreme freshness mantra and micro-batching · Evolution from mobile cart to multi-cafe footprint · Direct engagement with specialty coffee culture

Videos by their credited creators. Playing a video connects to YouTube. Privacy

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