Ethiopia Werka Nensebo Dry Process

Apricot, Strawberry, Lime, Cocoa

This lot was produced by smallholder family farmers from the Werka village in West Arsi, a subdivision of the Oromia Zone. As garden farmers, they’re able to give more attention to each shrub than your average estate producers, and that level of care is part of what makes these coffees so magical. It doesn’t hurt that this harvest came from local varietals, or that it matured at sky-high altitudes in world-famous soil.

Processing for this coffee was handled by the Nensebo Washing Station. First, they floated cherries for quality, then spread the winners across traditional raised beds. The coffee sunbathed for two and a half weeks, dropping moisture and picking up bombastic fruit tones. Meanwhile, the Nensebo crew turned the cherries regularly and measured water content to ensure even drying. Word has it their station manager also sang lullabies and whispered affirmations about the cherries’ capacity for fruit expression. But maybe that's just a rumor.

This coffee brews up jammy and robust. There’s apricot in the aroma and taste, a bit of strawberry too. It’s hard to say which dominates. They meld into a berry/stone fruit compote that gathers momentum as the cup cools. There’s also lime hanging around; not a huge hit, but just enough to add citric zest to the jammy sweetness. Last, a cocoa note shines through. This isn’t a chocolatey cup, but there’s just the right pinch of heft, sugars, and cacao to offset the fruit. The result is a serious winner from a serious origin, fit for the most serious of drinkers—that would be you.

• Process - Dry/Natural
• Region - Werka Village, West Arsi, Oromia
• Varietal - Local Varietals
• Altitude - 1,950 - 2,100

Best for:

• Pour Over
• Aeropress
• Single Origin Espresso