Seven Seeds

Our Recommendation:

Basha Bekele, Natural Ethiopia (Filter Roast)

Roaster’s Comment:

ORIGIN: Bensa, Sidama

VARIETAL: Mixed Heirloom

PROCESS: Natural

ALTITUDE: 2300 masl

HARVEST: November to December

FLAVOUR NOTES: Radiant and Delicious with notes of Mango, Pineapple, Sugarcane

This past season Basha Bekele won the Ethiopia cup of excellence, with a score of 90.50. A feat made more impressive by the fact it was his first time entering the competition.

In the grand scheme of things, the Bensa highlands in Sidama would be very much considered a younger sibling in the birthplace of coffee. Up until 2019 Sidama was considered a zone within the SNNPR( Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region)However after a vote the zone broke away and established itself as the tenth recognized region in Ethiopia. The Bensa highlands, where this lot is from, has experienced climate change over the last fifty years that has created the conditions ideal for growing coffee in the region. Much of the industry in the highlands is no more than 20 years old. The high altitude here means there is limited access to water for cherry processing, resulting in a necessary preference to natural processed lots. It is an area where coffee is fuelling significant change, and seeds are really happy to be a part of that.

This sun dried Natural lot provides a breath of fresh air to our forthcoming spring releases. A wonderful coffee that will stand out in a crowd. Basha Bekele is an incredibly exciting producer, putting out some of the most adventurous and thought provoking lots that we have seen. It has been a privilege working with him for the last four years, and we can’t wait to get his coffee on the menu again.