Coffees from Bombe are grown at extreme elevations nestled in the valleys of the Sidama mountains. This unique location consistently produces some of the highest-scoring coffees of the year. In the cup we find watermelon, white florals, and raspberry.
Ethiopian Landrace
Bombe, Sidama
2,300 masl
January, 2024
Cherries are delivered to the central washing station. Floated to further remove defects. De-pulped. Grade 1 density separated. Fermented underwater for 48 hours. Dried on raised beds for 10-14 days.
Coffees from Bombe are produced passive-organically, following the traditional methods of coffee cultivation. The vast majority comes from small gardens of about .1 to .2 hectares (~.25 - ~.5 acre). Nearly everyone in the region grows coffee, and coffee remains the number one source of income for these producers. We will be visiting Bensa this year to gain better insight into this region and to continue working on how we can better support this community.
Ethiopia is widely acknowledged as where coffee originated, and its production continues to represent about 10% of the country’s gross domestic product. DNA testing has confirmed over 60 distinct varieties growing in Ethiopia, making it home to the most coffee biodiversity of any region in the world. Given the tradition of coffee production in Ethiopia and the political interworkings of the Ethiopian coffee trade, it is virtually impossible to get single variety coffee lots from Ethiopia. This is changing, albeit very slowly. Most Ethiopian coffees are blends of the many Ethiopian varieties, and referred to simply as 'Ethiopian Landrace'.
The cost of getting a coffee from cherry to beverage varies enormously depending on its place of origin and the location of its consumption. The inclusion of price transparency is a starting point to inform broader conversation around the true costs of production and the sustainability of specialty coffee as a whole.