Hambella Washed

Girma Tamiru Varietal – Local heirloom cultivarsPreparation – Anaerobic, 9-day fermentation and natural driedLocation – Aricha, YirgacheffeAltitude – 2000 maslImporter - Falcon Coffees This extended anaerobic lot comes from Aricha in Yirgacheffe, supplied through Girma Tamiru washing station, with whom the site is in its second year of working. Local heirloom cultivars are grown focusing on organic farming methods (though uncertified due to cost) by smallholder farmers on farms averaging around 0.5 hectares, under false banana shade at elevations of up to about 2,150 metres, and harvested between November and January. The cherries are fermented anaerobically in plastic barrels for nine days, then dried for 13 to 18 days, a process chosen to maximise intense, juicy flavours while keeping quality consistent. This season brought unusually high rainfall that made drying harder, alongside high cherry prices and tighter access to finance, but Ephtah financed 90% of the coffee and the supplier paid the remaining 10% directly to farmers, keeping careful processing and quality control at the centre of the work. The coffee is stored at Moplaco in Addis Ababa, prepared for export, and sent by train to Djibouti before shipping. It reflects Yirgacheffe’s reputation for high-elevation, smallholder coffees with distinctive clarity and aromatic complexity. Tasting notes include Blueberry, Lychee and Peach Sorbet

Coffee Bird Decaf Varietal – Bourbon, Caturra and a small amount of GeishaPreparation – WashedLocation – Antigua, Acatenango, HuehueAltitude – 1500+ maslImporter - Coffee Bird Dreams is a decaf from several farms processed using the Sugar Cane method resulting in a sweet, balanced decaf. It’s a blend of Strictly Hard Bean lots from Antigua, Huehuetenango and Acatenango in Guatemala, made up of Bourbon, Caturra and Typica with a small touch of Gesha. All the lots are washed and dried on patios. It’s decaffeinated using the sugarcane process, where ethyl acetate derived from sugarcane gently lifts the caffeine out while keeping the beans’ natural sweetness and character intact. It’s a versatile coffee that works just as well in milk drinks as it does brewed as a filter. Tasting notes include Toffee, milk chocolate and goji berries

Kenya - Kangunu washed Varietal – SL28, SL34, Ruiru and BatianPreparation – Washed (dry ferment)Location – Muranga countyAltitude – 1700+ maslImporter - Horsham Coffee Roaster We first visited the Kangunu co-operative in December 2016 and have been buying their coffee every since. They produce some of the best Kenyan coffees. This is an AA bean-size lot produced using the classic Kenya washed method. Coffee is pulped, dry fermented, and then washed in grading channels to separate the high-density, best-quality beans. Tasting notes include cranberry, black cherry, maple syrup.

A washed Red Bourbon from Liza washing station near Kamembe in southwest Rwanda. Orange, caramel, and cranberry notes showcase Horsham's long-running direct relationship with Jean Paul and local smallholders.