Basha Bekele

Description

Tastes Like: Cantaloupe, Passionfruit, Blueberries

Origin: Sidama, Bensa, Bombe, Ethiopia

Variety: 74158

Producer: Basha Bekele

Elevation: 2,250 masl

Process: Natural

Farm and Producer

Basha Bekele grows coffee in the Bensa district of Sidama and also works with nearby growers through collection sites including Kokose. His family previously sold cherries through a cooperative; obtaining an export license enabled him to develop direct relationships with international buyers.

Basha's own coffee grows in semi-forested plots, while his collection sites draw on additional farms in the surrounding highlands. This Kokose selection is listed at 2,250 meters.

Variety

74158 identifies the Ethiopian planting selections used in this lot. Numbered selections are part of Ethiopia’s approach to maintaining and improving coffee planting material, alongside locally named landraces.

Processing

The coffee is prepared with a natural finish, drying the seeds within the whole cherry before the dried fruit is removed. Basha's preparation includes flotation to remove unsuitable cherries and slow drying on raised beds. Sorting and moisture management are central to keeping these fruit-covered coffees consistent during drying.

Text from Hydrangea Coffee Roasters' listing.