Ethiopia Awash River Natural is a naturally processed single origin from smallholder farms in the Guji region of southern Ethiopia. The cherries are dried whole in the sun, so the sugars in the fruit work their way into the bean and arrive in the cup as apricot and lemon over a deep, soft toffee sweetness. We roast it to a medium profile that keeps the fruit forward and the finish clean — it is as good in a cafetière or a filter as it is as espresso.

Available as a one-off purchase or on a subscription.

Where it comes from

The Awash is one of Ethiopia’s great rivers, cutting through the Rift Valley and feeding the farmland on either side of it. This lot comes from smallholder farmers in Guji working the high ground watered by the river and its many tributaries — fertile soil, altitude and long sunny days, the conditions arabica likes best. The trees are Ethiopian heirloom varieties, many of them descended from the wild forest coffee that still grows across the south of the country.

How it is processed

Awash River is a natural, or dry process, coffee. Ripe cherries are picked and dried whole in the sun on patios and raised African beds for around twelve to fifteen days, dependi…