Tasting notes:
apricot, strawberry, milk chocolate
Region: Sidama
Farmer: 375 smallholders
Variety: Mikicho, Setami
Process: Natural
Altitude: 2000 masl
Roast: Filter
The story
Bombe comes from the Testi Ayla Washing Station that was founded in 2010 and became part of the Testi group in 2016, a family owned specialty coffee producer and exporter business. Their mission isn’t only to provide the greatest quality coffee but to give back to those who had a major role in producing the specialty coffee we know to love today, the farmers. The plant serves about 375 smallholder farmers in Sidama, Shantawene. Producers here own an average of 2.5 hectares and grow varieties such as Mikicho and Setami, which are native, local coffees. Coffees in Ethiopia are typically traceable to the washing station level: The average producer here delivers their cherry to the washing station, where it is blended with other producers' deliveries and processed as necessary. This particular lot was processed with the Natural method. The coffee is typically delivered on the day of the harvest, and is first sorted for ripeness and quality before being rinsed clean of dirt. Our lot achieved the highest quality, Grade 1. Then they are spread on raised drying beds or tables, where they will be rotated constantly throughout the course of drying and workers remove all defected beans by hand. Drying can take an average of 8–25 days, depending on the weather.