Roast level: light
Characteristics: black cherry, marzipan, fruit cake
Varietal: 74110, 74165
Processing: natural process
Producers: Musa Abulelessa
Importer: Crop to Cup, Brooklyn
Size: 12 oz
Natural Process Coffee:
The natural process, or dry process, involves handpicking ripe coffee cherries, which are then spread out in a single layer to dry naturally under the sun for several weeks. During this time, the cherries undergo fermentation while still containing their inner seeds, developing unique fruity flavors. Regular turning and monitoring prevent spoilage, and once dried to the desired moisture content, the cherries are hulled to reveal the coffee beans. After sorting and grading, the beans rest before packaging, resulting in vibrant and intense flavor profiles with notes of berries and tropical fruits, characteristic of natural process coffees.
Ethiopian, Musa Abulelessa, Natural Process
Musa Abulelessa, alongside his siblings Mustefa and Gugu, each owns small farms in the Gomma region of Agaro. Musa and Mustefa jointly manage two farms, Koye and Chanko, located outside Beshasha. Prior to the area being cleared for coffee cultivation, their jungle parcel at an elevation of 2100 meters served as a refuge for their father, Abalulessa, who was a guerrilla fighter opposing the oppressive military regime known as The Derg. The government, unable to capture him and having suffered losses in their attempts, offered a bounty for Abalulessa’s capture, leading him to stage his death with the help of a friend to benefit from the bounty. Following Abalulessa’s passing in 1977, when Musa was only two years old, the government granted land to the brothers and their mother as part of an amnesty and reconciliation initiative, which the sons now cultivate.
Ethiopia holds a significant position in the global coffee industry as the birthplace of the plant and the seventh-largest producer worldwide. The nation also boasts a substantial domestic consumption of coffee. Given the importance of coffee to Ethiopia's economy, the government plays a significant role in the industry, reflecting an intriguing context. Ethiopia, proud of its history of never being colonized, has long been governed by a tribal minority, primarily the Tigray. However, a coup in 2018 led to the installation of an Oromo president, representing the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia. The Oromia region, from which the president hails, encompasses a significant portion of Ethiopia's coffee-growing areas.
With a population exceeding 100 million, nearly 15 million Ethiopians depend on coffee for their livelihoods. Coffee contributes to 60% of the country's foreign income and constitutes approximately 40% of total exports. Despite its status as Africa's largest coffee producer, the industry experiences considerable consolidation. Buying practices in Ethiopia generally fall into three categories: through exporters who purchase from the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), via cooperative unions that market coffee from member cooperatives, or directly from individual producers or estates, provided they own a farm exceeding 2 hectares and meet export requirements. Further details on these methods are outlined below.