Meet the People Behind Your Cup

This coffee was grown by Basha Bekele, a 30-year-old father of four, who learned
traditional coffee farming techniques from his father. His father engrained in Basha, the mindset that “coffee is our bread”.

Mr. Bekele owns and works four coffee farms in the Bensa woreda (district) of East Sidama, Ethiopia. He is one of two Ethiopian farmers who achieved presidential award status at the 2024 Cup of Excellence Ethiopia competition. His coffee earned a cup score of 90.5 that year.

About This Coffee

The varietal of this month’s coffee is Heirloom Typica. It’s important to pause here for a moment and tell you more about Ethiopia Heirloom varietals. You have probably heard the story of Kaldi and his goats, who “discovered” coffee many hundreds of years ago.

For plants in general, heirloom plants are traditional cultivars passed down through
generations, valued for their flavor, diversity, and historical significance. In Ethiopia, the word “heirloom” is often used to refer to varieties that are native to the country, many of which are still found in the wild today.

It is estimated that there are between 10,000 and 15,000 heirloom varieties in Ethiopia today, the majority of which have not been formally genetically identified.

That is why we love Ethiopian coffees, in other parts of the world,coffee varietals were introduced, in Ethiopia they evolved naturally.

This coffee was grown at very high elevations between 6800 and 7200 feet above sea level. Elevation is important here because elevation influences temperature. That matters because coffee development is deeply tied to temperature. Cooler growing
conditions can slow the maturation of the coffee cherry. Slower maturation can give the beans, which are really seeds, more time to develop density, sugars, acids, and the compounds that later become aroma and flavor during roasting.

What to Expect in Your Cup

Sipping this coffee is pure pleasure. It is smooth and clean throughout the cup and while enjoying it you may find notes of apricot, rose, and jasmine.

This coffee pairs well with Apricot Scone or Apricot Danish, Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Glaze, and Buttered Popcorn with a Drizzle of Honey! You might already have these in your kitchen!