2023 December Box

Tanzania Natural and Ethiopian Washed

Two African coffees to round off the year 2023! First up is the last coffee of the year by Finagro Plantations from their Gaia Farm. This has been our first year working with this producer and they have done some interesting innovations in Tanzanian coffee. From their co-fermented Mahaha (found as our Holiday Coffee) to this Ethiopian landrace that was grown on their farm when they brought back seeds from Sidamo. To pair and contrast, we have included a rock solid washed Ethiopian coffee that is always a favourite origina and process of our roastery. Happy Holidays!

Tanzania Natural

This coffee is a natural landrace variety from Ethiopia that was planted in Gaia Farm. Back in 2006, five seeds were brought back from Sidamo to be planted and cultivated into 10000 trees! This coffee was given a 4 day pre-ferment followed by a 56 hour pulped dry ferment. The genetic diversity and cup quality of Ethiopian varieties have always been recognized as cornerstones for the future of arabica specialty coffee. It is interesting to see producers taking a chance to improve the access of these varieties in new origins to broaden the genetic diversity and availability outside of Ethiopia.

Origin:

Ngorongoro, Tanzania

Roast Profile:

Light Roast

Notes:

Cherry, Berries, Marzipan

Brew:

Filter, Modern Espresso

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We recommend Recipe A in our brew guide

Ethiopia Washed

From Crop to Cup:

“In 2006, Musa won a competition held by the Ethiopian government among the 500 participants selected and, as a reward, was sent to participate in AFCA in Uganda, received prize money and a hand pulper. He used the prize money to expand his farm to 43.8 hectares, but, in 2008 the Ethiopian government introduced the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, ending direct export and requiring Musa to sell his coffee at commercial prices locally in Agaro.

This changed in 2016 when the government began to liberalize coffee export and allow some farmers to hold their own export licenses. Crop to Cup was Musa’s first direct sale customer that year. Musa has inspired other farmers in the region—including his brother Gugu—to pursue direct export as a way to receive higher prices for their coffee. With the premiums he’s earned, Musa has begun to renovate his farm and replant using seedlings from his nursery; built new drying beds; purchased shade cloth; and built a larger warehouse."