Japanese Soufflé Stack

Review

Rise is 5.0 and has been since the stack entered the cohort. Measured at 46mm at the centre of the upper pancake, held for the duration of the sitting, and recovered visibly after being pressed with the back of a spoon. No other stack under evaluation recovers.

Syrup retention at 4.8 follows from the same structure. The open crumb holds syrup in suspension rather than passing it through to the plate, which is why the plate was clean at the end of the sitting and the stack was not.

The dimension that does not follow is absorbency, at 3.3. The committee has discussed this at length and the conclusion is that retention and absorption are being confused by observers. The stack holds a great deal of syrup and takes up very little of it. Cut open, the interior is dry. This is the one place where the stack’s reputation runs ahead of its measured performance, and it is worth stating plainly because nobody has stated it.

Growth area at P6 is influence beyond its own plate. The evidence here is good. Two other stacks in the cohort have changed their pour depth this year and both cite this one. That is the P6 bar and it is met.

Expectation for 2026-Q4 is a documented answer on absorbency. P7 requires it.

Calibration note. Highest composite in the cohort in 2026-Q3. Rated Exceeds. The top bucket was not allocated this quarter.

Dimension breakdown, 2026-Q3

Each dimension is scored from 1.0 to 5.0 and multiplied by the weight in force for 2026-Q3. The weighted column sums to the composite.

Trajectory

Composite, rank and rating for every quarter this stack has been calibrated in.