Raro - Ethiopia

Description

Origin: Uraga, Guji, Ethiopia Processing Station: Raro Boda Producer: Smallholder Farms Altitude: 1,900 -2,200 m Variety: Heirloom Process: Washed Notes: Lavender, Blood Orange, Bergamot Recommended brew method: Filter SNAP was established in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia in 2008, by entrepreneur Negusse. Today, SNAP runs multiple washing stations in key coffee-producing regions, including Guji. Aside from the facilitating multiple processing stations and supporting producers with export, SNAP also provides training and education to their producers, contributing to the overall improvement of their livelihoods. SNAP has also contributed to building schools, improving rural infrastructure, and established healthcare clinics for the local communities. In Ethiopia where multiple producers of small lots gather at processing stations, it is crucial to have a leading body the producers can rely on for quality control. This specific lot of coffee was processed at one of SNAP's facilities called the Raro Boda wet mill located in Uraga, Guji, established in 2018. The Raro Boda wet mill serves 250 to 700 smallholder farmers per harvest season, and the operations and quality control are overseen by Q-Grader and Cup of Excellence national judge Medhin Tamiru. Coffee cherries grow in extremely high elevation in this region - the cool temperatures slow cherry maturation, concentrating sugars and produces dense beans with sweetness and complex acidity. Smallholder farmers select and handpick the ripest cherries and deliver to the processing station. The cherries are depulped, then fermented underwater in ceramic-tiled tanks for 48 to 72 hours. These tiled tanks prevent bacteria accumulation, resulting in a cleaner cup. The parchment is then washed, sorted by bean density, soaked in clean spring water, and then dried on raised beds for 10 to 14 days. The resulting cup is extremely clean, with calm floral notes of lavender and a complex sweet acidity of blood orange and bergamot.