The Shadow
WashedDark
Cherrybook Index
75Strong
Evidence-of-quality score, not a cup score. Confident: 4 of 7 signals on file. Methodology
Price position
$2.55/oz$22.50 for 250g
this lot $2.55$2.00$3.21
Typical band for this profile $2.00 to $3.21 (washed blend lots (other named varieties, retail bags); USD listings; dark roast in stock). Where it sits
Catalog summary
A washed lot from Huila, Colombia, indexed 75 on confident evidence and priced inside the typical band for its listed profile.
Based on the listing and catalog evidence
Price and availability set by the roaster.
Save at Modcup CoffeeFree shipping over $75
Roaster’s notes
burnt sugar · baker's chocolate · smokey vanilla
- Cocoa and nut
- Sugar and spice
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.
- Origin
- Huila, CO
- Producer
- —
- Farm / Co-op
- —
- Process
- Washed
- Altitude
- —
- Varietals
- Colombia
- Harvest
- —
- Weight
- 250g
- Bag price
- $22.50
- Price / oz
- $2.55/oz
- Brew
- espresso, filter, cold_brew
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.
$2.55/oz
typically $2.00 to $3.21
Where it sits
28 washed blend lots (other named varieties, retail bags); USD listings; dark roast in stock
typical band this lot
Broad comparison: 96th percentile of 28 washed blend lots (other named varieties, retail bags); USD listings; dark roast in stock right now.
This group broadens origin, roast or selling market to find enough lots. It does not qualify this coffee for a value recommendation.
What moves this price
cheaper×1.00pricier
- Roaster brand and sourcing×1.36
- Washed process×0.95
- Dark roast×0.96
- Colombia origin×1.04
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.
Not listed by the roaster: altitude
Cherrybook Index (CBI)
Evidence-of-quality score, not a cup score. Methodology
75
Strong
Confident
Confidence4 of 7 signals on file
Enough independent signal to score at face value; no shrinkage applied.
How confidence affects the score
Coverage measures signal availability, not cup quality. This coffee has 53% 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 0% so one thin signal cannot carry the score on its own.
Missing: SCA grade, On-shop ratings, Cherrybook ratings
- 85/ 19% weightYouTube reviewsSentiment from third-party YouTube reviewer mentions
- 75/ 34% weightReddit sentimentSentiment across specialty-coffee discussion
- 70/ 38% weightCoffee ReviewMean score from coffeereview.com
- 50/ 9% weightRoaster transparencyProducer / farm / lot disclosure depth
Bonuses applied
- +2Sprudge press coverageThis roaster has been featured by Sprudge
Base weighted score: 72.6 + bonuses = 75
Sensory profileestimated
- Acidity
- 2
- Body
- 4
- Sweetness
- 3
- Balance
- 3
- Clean
- 3
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.
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
- Build-Outs Of Summer: Modcup Coffee Company of Jersey City, New Jersey2016-08-29·sprudge
Modcup Coffee Company in Jersey City, New Jersey.
- New Jersey Rising: Modcup Coffee Shines In Jersey City2015-07-07·sprudge
We explore Jersey City’s Modcup with owners Travas Clifton and Justin Hicks.
- Build-Outs Of Summer: Roasting And Rolling With Modcup Coffee In Jersey City2014-08-06·sprudge
French bread trucks are so hot right now, and you better believe they’re heating up in Jersey City.…
On YouTube
Meet the roaster on camera
About the roasterShop tour
From Coffee Cart to 4 Cafes
Moii · 3.5K views on YouTube
Watch on YouTubeThis 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