Illicit is an espresso blend combining several different origins to create sweet and bright flavor characteristics. The blend features natural sugars with citrus notes, creating a well-balanced palate. As espresso, the extraction is syrupy and heavy with substantial crema. The profile includes hard candy sweetness with tangy citrus punch, delivering a silky texture. Tagged as a light medium roast espresso blend.
Nathan Wyss and Josh Magnani founded Contraband Coffee in San Francisco, opening their original Larkin Street location on Christmas Eve 2010. SF Weekly named it Best New Cafe in 2011, and a second San Francisco location followed in the SoMa district in 2017. Roasting takes place at a facility on 81st Avenue in Oakland, where a vintage Probat and custom built equipment allow each coffee to be approached with its own specific profile. The name carries through to the lineup, with blends like Black Market, Smuggler's Blend, and Sub Rosa alongside single origins from Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, and Rwanda. Contraband sources exclusively through cooperatives, small farmers, and ethical organizations, refusing to work through middlemen.
