Coffees scoring a mean of between 84.8 and 91.9 points were admitted to this first ever open-outcry auction in Ethiopia. With 13 washed and 9 super quality natural process coffees available, there is something offered for every distinguished coffee palate. ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED IN 25-BAG QUANTITIES, Enjoy!Lot Descriptions
Lot numbers are broken down by category. Lots 21 through 31 are traditional washed coffees. Lots 41 through 53 are sun-dried natural coffees.
"Grade" is supplied by the producers. Coffees without a listed grade were submitted to competition without assignation
NATURAL COFFEES
Lot 21
Producer: SMS PLC
Community: Korate, Sidamo
Grade: 3
Cupping Score 91.9
Cupping notes: floral, jasmine, full flavor, juicy, creamy, syrupy, very sweet, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, papaya, pineapple, mango, smooth, lingering sweetness
Extra Remarks:For the second straight year, Solomon Worku’s coffee has shown very strongly in the competition. This Sidamo coffee is grown in rich volcanic soil close to 2000 meters under the shade of Enset (false banana) trees, which some believe effect Ethiopian coffees with distinct floral flavor.
Lot 22
Producer: S.A. Bagersh
Community: Biloya, Sidamo
Grade: 1
Cupping score: 90.5
Cupping notes: berries, cherries, sweet, creamy, fruit, jasmine, apricots, grapes, raspberries
Extra remarks: A spectacular natural coffee from the Bagersh family, one of Ethiopia’s leading innovators. The Biloya is grown close to 1900 meters in reddish-brown volcanic soil.
Lot 23
Producer: S.A. Bagersh
Community: Idido, Yirgacheffe
Grade: 1
Cupping score: 89.5
Cupping notes: rich, milk chocolate, cherries, candied apples, ripe figs, plum, full fruit, rich fruit, creamy, berries, citrus
Extra remarks: Another marvelous coffee from Bagersh, the Idido has become known around the world for its meticulous preparation and distinct cup characteristics.
Lot 24
Producer: IPS
Community: Dale, Sidamo
Cupping score: 88.5
Cupping notes: brown sugar, cocoa, vanilla, cherry, spice, honey, chocolate, blueberry, sweet
Extra remarks: A first time winner from the quality-oriented IPS group, this was the top coffee from the Dale community in Sidamo.
Lot 25
Producer: Mullugeta Dukemo
Community: Aleta Wondo, Sidamo
Cupping score: 88.3
Cupping notes: clean, sweet, winey, strawberry, pleasant acidity, port wine, blueberries, honey, melons
Extra remarks: The only natural coffee from this year’s surprise community, Aleta Wondo. This unique, small-holder coffee met with universal praise from our panel of judges.
Lot 26
Producer: Dominion Trading Company
Community: Chelba, Yirgacheffe
Grade: 1
Cupping score: 88.0
Cupping notes: fruit, citrus, jasmine, good body, sparkling, fresh butter, bright acidity, pineapple, sweet
Extra remarks: Dante Villone’s ambitious and conscientious DTC entered coffee that showed strongly in last year’s competition. This is their first entry in the natural category, showing the same kind of care and quality that they are known for in their washed coffees, with the distinct cup qualities of a natural.
Lot 27
Producer: Moredocafe
Community: Guji, Sidamo
Grade: 4
Cupping score: 87.1
Cupping notes: fruit, spice, syrupy, cocoa, cherries, chocolate, rich, brown sugar
Extra remarks:
Lot 29
Producer: Adam Bedane
Community: Dara, Sidamo
Grade: 1
Cupping score: 86.6
Cupping notes: berries, ripe cherries, sweet, vanilla, fresh butter, dark chocolate, oranges, tangerine, great snap, finishes smooth, citrus, sweet and fat
Extra remarks: Adam Bedane’s mid-size export company is tapped into some of the very best coffee that is coming out of the Sidamo region. This coffee was notable on the table for its incredible range and complexity.
Lot 30
Producer: Sidama Coffee Farmers' Cooperative Union
Community: Chelba, Sidamo
Certifications: Fair Trade, Organic
Cupping score: 84.8
Cupping notes: earthy, maple, toast, chocolate, tamarind, sweet, balanced, cardamom, cocoa, complex
Extra remarks: The Sidama Farmers' Union was the only union to enter and make the final cut. This unique coffee is also certified Fair Trade and certified Organic.
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WASHED COFFEES
Lot 41
Producer: Lensamo Lamisso Naramo
Community: Aleta Wondo, Sidamo
Cupping score: 91.3
Cupping notes: berry, sweet, floral, blackcurrant, tropical fruit, lemon, milk chocolate, fat, juicy, strawberries, blueberries, honey, fresh cream
Extra remarks: The biggest surprise of this year. Lensamo Lamisso is a long-time specialized miller in Aleta Wondo who has had little exposure to the specialty market. He produces coffee in an area with a very distinct soil type and a unique Sidamo varietal. One of six Aleta Wondo coffees in this year’s auction.
Lot 42
Producer: Ethio Agri-CEFT
Community: Gemadro, Tepi
Grade: 2
Cupping score: 87.7
Cupping notes: blueberries, dark chocolate, raisins, elegant, molasses, apricots, silky smooth, honey, sweet, floral, subtle
Extra remarks: The largest semi-forest farm in western Ethiopia, spanning more than 1000 hectares. Coffee is produced under a canopy of primary shade trees. The farm uses a unique combination of socially and environmentally sustainable practices. The coffee exemplifies the unique potential of Tepi coffees: sweet and clean flavor profiles with distinct Ethiopian characteristics.
Lot 43
Producer: Mahtebe Borse Borchere
Community: Aleta Wondo, Sidamo
Cupping score: 87.3
Cupping notes: chocolate, cocoa, sweet, very sweet, spice, lingering sweetness, vanilla, gentle, honey, floral
Extra remarks: Another coffee from the Aleta Wondo community. The Borse Borchere mill uses natural spring water to wash and process all its coffees. The mill includes an effective filtering system for the cleaning of waste water. Borse Borchere is a respected community leader in the Aleta Wondo area/
Lot 44
Producer: Moredocafe
Community: Guji, Sidamo
Grade: 2
Cupping score: 87.2
Cupping notes: caramel, apricots, gentle acidity, well balanced, ripe fruit, sparkling, citrus, syrupy sweetness, green apple, blackcurrant
Extra remarks: Guji is a recently-discovered coffee-producing area in the southeastern tip of the Sidamo coffee area. Until recently, Guji coffee was blended with other undifferentiated Sidamo coffees, a practice that largely continues. The Guji area cradles some of the undiscovered gems of Sidamo style coffees, such as this lot from Moredocafe.
Lot 45
Producer: Wonberta
Community: Guji, Sidamo
Cupping score: 87.1
Cupping notes: chocolate, spice, plums, raisins, clean, sweet, sugar, floral, citrus, cocoa, honey, papaya, molasses
Extra remarks: Another coffee from the Guji area. The results of this year's auction have been very encouraging for producers of coffee in this micro-region, and for buyer's looking for outstanding and unique coffees such as this lot from the small exporter Wonberta.
Lot 46
Producer: Adam Bedane
Community: Dara, Sidamo
Cupping score: 85.8
Cupping notes: floral, vanilla, honey, clean, crisp, refreshing, cocoa, sweet, eucalyptus, lavender, spice, complex
Extra remarks: The top scoring washed coffee from Adam Bedane’s Sidamo operation. This company provided exceptional coffees in both categories this year.
Lot 47
Producer: Kemal Abdella
Community: Djimma, Limu
Cupping score: 85.8
Cupping notes: buttery, honey, brown sugar, full, thick molasses, lavender
Extra remarks: Seid Kedir is the principal farmer for this coffee from Loya Sedi village, which contributes about 6000 bags annually to Ethiopia’s coffee production. This was the top scoring coffee from the well-known Limu region.
Lot 48
Producer: Dominion Trading Company
Community: Chelba, Yirgacheffe
Grade: 1
Cupping score: 85.5
Cupping notes: jasmine, chili peppers, tangy, honey, cocoa, citrus, floral, citrus, fruit
Extra remarks: Dante Villone’s shade-grown coffee project has made contractual arrangements with 1500 small coffee growers to whom he is committed to paying very high prices for cherry. Grown at up to 2000 meters in nitosol soil type with up to 2200 mm of rainfall. Dante returns up to 40% of profits to farmers for social projects.
Lot 49
Producer: Mullege PLC
Community: Sigiga, Yirgacheffe
Cupping score: 85.4
Cupping notes: fruit, citrus, clean, sweet, green apple, apricots, cocoa, spice, complex
Extra remarks: Mullege, a long-established exporter in the Ethiopian coffee community, recognizes their “special jet prep” Sigiga as the classic, hallmark Yirgacheffe bean.
Lot 50
Producer: Adam Bedane
Community: Dara, Sidamo
Cupping score: 85.4
Cupping notes: chocolate, honey, molasses, dark chocoloate, round, caramel, raisins
Extra remarks: Adam Bedane contributes another clean, well-rounded coffee in the washed category.
Lot 51
Producer: Yitbarek Tilahun "Habeja 2"
Community: Aleta Wondo, Sidamo
Cupping score: 85.4
Cupping notes: hazelnuts, caramel, chocolate, cocoa, citrus, round, full fruit, apple, sweet
Extra remarks: Another surprise from Aleta Wondo. Yitbarek Tilahun has two mills in the community, one at 1700 meters and one at 1900. Habeja 2 (named for his daughter, Habeja) is the higher of the two.
Lot 52
Producer: Futena Debela Guraro
Community: Aleta Wondo, Sidamo
Cupping score: 85.3
Cupping notes: caramel, bright, lively, turbinado sugar, honey, molasses, spice
Extra remarks: The unique soils and varietals in the Aleta Wondo area, combined with the meticulousness and knowhow of the millers, have allowed them to show so well in this competition. This is the first year that individal processors such as Futena Debela, a community leader in Aleta Wondo, have entered their stellar coffees.
Lot 53
Producer: Yitbarek Tilahun "Habeja 1"
Community: Aleta Wondo, Sidamo
Cupping score: 85.0
Cupping notes: spice, toast, sweet, cherry, tropical fruit, exotic fruit, mango
Extra remarks: Another “Habeja” coffee from Yitbarek Tilahun. The farmers around these two mills are very loyal to these millers. Yitbarek has traditionally produced coffee for one buyer only. This is a unique chance to buy his coffee. He has recently ventured into separation of specialty lots such as this one.