ETHIOPIA LALESA ONNA ANAEROBIC

Seeking fine coffee from Ethiopia has become almost effortless through our long-standing partnership with Falcon Coffee. During a recent cupping session we came across an exceptional natural anaerobic from Lalesa Washing Station. Located in Gedeb the station is from a region we have returned to many times. Coffees from here often carry an elegant aroma with rounded fruit character and balanced sweetness. The producer Ephtah works with a team deeply committed to quality and precision. Their approach to natural anaerobic processing brings a deeper boozy character without taking away the delicate fruit expression that makes Ethiopian coffee so distinctive.

Lalesa is full of surprises. Unlike some natural anaerobic coffees that lean heavily into winey or fermented flavours this coffee keeps its fruit character clear. On hand brew it opens with boysenberry and tender melon followed by a bright cherry sweetness. As the cup develops longan and mango juice begin to appear. The second sip brings a distinct raspberry juiciness with a subtle rosemary note through the finish. Brewed as espresso the tropical character becomes more pronounced while milk transforms the cup into something almost dessert-like. Think bingsu with grass jelly followed by the soft flavour of oolong milk tea.

As the coffee cools the strawberry character becomes more defined and the cup continues to shift without losing its balance. This is where Lalesa becomes especially interesting. It carries the depth expected from a natural anaerobic while retaining the elegance and clarity we often look for in Ethiopian coffee. Lalesa is the kind of coffee that speaks for itself. A coffee with enough character to stay in memory and a name worth remembering.