Ethiopia Nensebo Refisa 250 g

This year autumn arrived out of nowhere, as if someone had switched summer off with a single move. To keep a bit of sunshine on the table, we’re bringing in a light and sweet Ethiopia. In the cup you’ll find jasmine, nectarine and bergamot – a trio that feels more like a lazy afternoon in the garden than layering jumpers on a chilly morning. Blind-tasted, this coffee immediately stood out for its freshness. Another proof that washed Ethiopias haven’t had their last word yet – they keep surprising, and they will continue to do so.

And here comes the double surprise: these beans come from West Arsi, one of the youngest regions on Ethiopia’s coffee map. Once counted as part of Sidamo, it now speaks with its own voice, showing flavour and character that are becoming more and more distinct. Farms here are relatively young; trees planted in the past two decades produce harvests that are remarkably clean and expressive, as plants often are in their prime.

In Nensebo woreda, near the village of Refisa, hundreds of smallholders deliver their cherries to the washing station run by Negusse Debela. The cherries are carefully hand-sorted, depulped and fermented in the water tanks for 48 hours. Finally, the beans are dried on raised bamboo beds for ten to fourteen days. The combination of local varieties and a classic washed process results in a cup full of clarity and lightness: exactly what we love in the best Ethiopian fully washed coffees.