This is one of three new Ethiopian coffees we've just bought from the Daye Bensa cooperative in Sidamo, and it is stunning!! We think it tastes like Grape Kool-Aid and Caramel... it's bursting with a juicy sweetness that lingers in every sip. No wonder this coffee earned 2nd and 3rd place in the 2020 Cup of Excellence of Ethiopia. It came from small plots in the highland area of Arbegona in a specific village called Rumudamo, which benefits from very high altitudes of up to 2300 MASL. This high altitude is part of what gives Rumudamo its delicious taste.
Arbegona is one of thirty districts in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone, Arbegona is bordered on the south by Bona Zuria, on the southwest by Bursa, on the northwest by Gorche, on the north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by Bensa. The major town in Arbegona is Arbegona.
Coffee is the main cash crop in Arbegona, though many other crops grow there such as sugar cane, false banana, spices, and vegetables. After harvest, the cherries are sorted based on density and quality by floating them in large water tanks. They are then transferred to African raised beds with mesh nets. The coffee is rotated every 30 minutes for even dryness and to control the fermentation process. The average drying time takes about 12-15 days based on the temperature and humidity, and then the dried cherries are stored in warehouses for flavour development.
We love buying coffee from Daye Bensa; they're a business with strong community orientation. They deliver bonus payments to farmers based on the volume they contribute to the microlots, and the consistency of bean quality throughout the years is also rewarded. Lately they have been consistently working with the school principals in the villages surrounding the farm, providing school materials for students who struggle with basic needs.
We sourced this coffee directly from Daye Bensa through their new importing brand Coffee Legends.
Elevation: 1900-2200 Meters above Sea Level
Varietal: Heirloom
Cup score: 88.5
Price paid per kg: £12
Process: Natural
