Ethiopia / Chelbesa

Producer: Kubi Smallholders
Origin: Ethiopia / Yirgacheffe, Kubi

Altitude: 11950 - 2200 MASL
Tasting: Blue and Black Berries, Cocoa, Plum
Process: Red Honey

Get ready for an Ethiopian coffee that breaks the mold! This rare Red Honey processed lot comes from the Kubu washing station in the high-altitude region of Yirgacheffe (1950 - 2200 MASL). The honey process is unusual in Ethiopia, and it gives this coffee an exceptional complexity, combining the sweetness and fuller, creamier mouthfeel of a natural coffee with the clarity of a washed coffee.

The secret to this "Red Honey" is a slow, shaded drying process. After the hand-picked, ripe cherries are selected (even using a refractometer to measure sugar content!), the outer skin is removed, but most of the sticky mucilage—the "honey"—is left to dry on the bean. They are then laid on African raised beds and turned frequently over 14-18 days until the moisture content is just right.