ETHIOPIA FINCHA HAWA BASHAKELELE

Ethiopia remains one of the most sought after coffee origins for specialty coffee drinkers. Yet tracing coffee back to its producer can be difficult. Information is often lost along the supply chain as commercial interests take priority over the people behind the coffee. Working with Falcon Coffee gives us access to Ethiopian microlots with clear traceability and producer information. This is how we came across Bekele Belachew. A passionate producer from Sagara village in Bensa who works with his family across a small six hectare farm.

Natural processing has been part of Ethiopia’s coffee culture for generations. Ripe cherries are picked and dried on raised beds. This simple process allows the character of the fruit and local terroir to come through. Bekele’s coffee carries the familiar character of a natural process with herbal and floral qualities while keeping the sweetness and balance we look for in an Ethiopian coffee. We approach the roast with gentle heat to allow the coffee to develop naturally. The result is a sweet and floral cup with a soft melon character.

This is our second year offering Bekele Belachew. On hand drip the coffee opens with sweet floral and herbaceous notes of geranium. It follows with the familiar warmth of English breakfast tea and fresh green thyme. There is also a fruity mempelam like acidity that keeps the cup lively. As espresso the geranium becomes more pronounced with yellow fruit and grape like sweetness. A watermelon body builds on the second sip and gives the espresso a creamy texture. With milk the fruit becomes softer and more playful with notes of honeydew and guava milkshake.An easy coffee to enjoy in any format. Straightforward and expressive. Enjoyable until the last sip.