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.