1Kg Coffee

FULL & CREAMY

Origin: Brazil
Region: Campo das Vertentes
Producer: Fazenda Sao Paulo
Altitude: 1125 meters above sea level
Variety: Arara
Process: Natural
Roast level: Light roast
SCA Score: 84.00 points

Synonymous with innovation and growth, Fazenda Sao Paulo has played a vital role in shaping the coffee industry in the Campo das Vertentes region, Minas Gerais. Established in the early 1980s as an agribusiness investment, the farm has grown into a beacon of development, providing work for hundreds of families and fostering progress in the local community. Coffee farming began modestly on the farm, but with dedication and passion, it has expanded to cover 800 hectares, becoming one of the group’s most prominent activities. At Fazenda Sao Paulo, sustainability didn’t start with a strategy or certification. It started with a belief that it’s possible to run a large, productive farm while still respecting the land, the animals, and the people who make it all happen.

For this lot, the cherries are harvested mostly by machines, which are adjusted to pick as many of the ripe cherries as possible. After harvest, they are immediately forwarded to paved drying patios, skipping the wet mill. Because there is no contact with water, this method helps prevent the development of unwanted ''fermented'' flavors. In the patios, the beans are spread out in extremely thin layers, almost “bean by bean”, without overlapping. This increases the exposure to the sunlight and therefore speeds up the drying process. Once the beans reach the final stage of drying, they are moved to mechanical rotating dryers that replicate patio conditions in a fully controlled environment. Temperatures are electronically preset at around 35-40°C, allowing for a consistent drying curve and therefore bringing more uniformity to the lot in terms of moisture content.

LIGHT & JUICY

Origin: Kenya
Region: Nyeri County
Producer: Tegu Factory
Altitude: 1700 masl.
Variety: SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11
Process: Washed
Roast level: Light roast
SCA Score: 86.00 points

The name “Tegu” means “low place,” reflecting its location in the foothills between Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Range. The combination of rich soil, high elevation, and a cool climate slows the maturation of coffee cherries. This extended development period allows sugars and acids to concentrate, resulting in the bright, citrus-forward profiles that have become synonymous with Kenyan coffees. Located just outside the town of Karatina in Nyeri County, Tegu Factory is one of the largest and oldest wet mills within Tekangu Farmers Cooperative Society. Established in 1969, the cooperative now supports around 1,200 smallholder farmers, most of whom cultivate less than one hectare of land in nearby villages.

Harvesting is done entirely by hand, with farmers selectively picking only ripe cherries before delivering them to Tegu Factory. Once received, the cherries are carefully sorted to remove defects. The coffee is processed using the fully washed method, beginning with pulping and 12-16 hours of fermentation. Afterward, the coffee is soaked in clean water for an additional 24 hours, a step believed to enhance clarity and brightness in the cup. Drying takes place on raised beds inside covered structures, where the parchment is regularly turned to ensure even drying and protect it from heat and nighttime moisture. This stage typically lasts 7-15 days before the coffee is milled and prepared for export.

SWEET & FRUITY

Origin: Ethiopia
Region: Gedeb, Yirgacheffe
Producer: EDN Banko Chelchele
Altitude: 1900 - 2300 masl
Variety: Heirloom
Process: Super Natural
Roast level: Espresso - Medium roast
SCA Score: 87.75 p.

This coffee comes from the village of Banko Chelchele in Gedeb, Southern Ethiopia, within the renowned Yirgacheffe coffee-growing region. It is exported by EDN, an Ethiopian specialty coffee company recognized for its close partnerships with smallholder farmers and its commitment to producing high-quality, fully traceable coffees. Farming in the area is deeply rooted in local knowledge, family traditions, and community-based harvesting practices.

The Chelchele washing station has developed a "Super Natural Process" that emphasizes the best qualities of naturally processed Ethiopian coffee. During the harvest season, coffee cherries are hand-picked with careful attention to ripeness and quality. Only carefully selected cherries are placed in sealed, oxygen-free tanks, where they undergo controlled fermentation for approximately 36 to 48 hours. Then coffee cherries are slowly dried for around 27 to 30 days. This method is designed to extend the drying process, allowing gradual chemical changes to occur within the beans before milling and preparation for export.

LIGHT & JUICY

Origin: Rwanda 
Region: Nyabihu District
Producer: Smallholder producers
Altitude: 1800-2000 masl.
Variety: Red Bourbon
Process: Washed
Roast level: Light roast
SCA Score: 84.75 points

Built in 2017, Shyira is a washing station situated at 2,000 meters above sea level, collecting cherries from neighbouring smallholder producers. This is among the highest-grown coffee we know of in Rwanda, from a region where very few washing stations exist, making it especially unique. Cherries are handpicked on remote mountain plots and carried down narrow paths to be carefully sorted, washed, fermented, and dried on raised beds beneath alternating sun and fog.

Coffee cherries are hand-sorted to remove underripe fruit and foreign matter. They are then floated in pre-pulping tanks to separate floaters before being pulped. Next, the coffee is fermented in concrete tanks for an average of 12 hours. During this stage, the parchment is continuously agitated through ceremonial foot-stomping to help remove residual mucilage and separate lower-density parchment. Each washing station has its own song for the foot-stomping ceremony, which is sung to build pride and a sense of ownership among workers.
After fermentation, the coffee passes through a serpentine grading channel, where parchment is separated by density. After the final rinse, coffee is moved to a pre-drying area, where it is hand-sorted again to remove insect-damaged, discoloured, or chipped beans. It is then dried for around 30 days, regularly turned during peak sun hours and covered at night. Once fully dried, the green coffee is ready for export.

LIGHT & JUICY

Origin: Ethiopia 
Region: Gedeb, Chelbesa
Producer: Ephtah Specialty Coffee
Altitude: 2200 masl.
Variety: Heirloom
Process: Washed
Roast level: Light roast
CVA Score: 86.25 p.

Ephtah Specialty Coffee builds sustainable supply chains across Ethiopia, focusing on quality, long-term partnerships, and supporting producer communities. The company also highlights the important role of women in coffee production and local economic development.

This lot comes from Chelbesa in the Gedeb woreda and was processed at an Ephtah-operated washing station. Grown under shade alongside enset (false banana), the coffee is produced by smallholder farmers cultivating local heirloom varieties and harvested from December to January.

At Chelbesa, the best cherries are selected and floated before processing. For this lot, the coffee is pulped and then fermented in tanks without water. After fermentation, the coffee is dried on raised beds for around 10 to 15 days.  

SWEET & FRUITY

Origin: Costa Rica
Region: Central Valley
Producer: Alberto & Diego Guardia
Altitude: 1400 masl.
Variety: Obata
Process: Natural
Roast level: Light roast
CVA Score: 87.5 pts

Hacienda Sonora is located at the foot of Poas Volcano in Carrillo, Alajuela. The farm covers approximately 100 hectares, including 65 hectares of shaded coffee and 35 hectares of wild forest reserve. Coffee is grown here surrounded by diverse trees and other vegetation, providing excellent conditions for production and improving the chemistry of the already rich volcanic soil. 
Alberto Guardia is the fourth generation of coffee producers in his family. In 1999, during a period of historically low coffee prices, Alberto invested in a mill for the estate and became a pioneer in alternative processing methods in the area, implementing Honey and Natural processing to his production. Hacienda Sonora has now been in the family for more than a century. Alberto’s son Diego joined the operation as co-manager in 2011 and now represents the fifth generation of coffee producers in the Guardia family.

Today, all coffee from Sonora is processed using Honey or Natural methods to develop distinct sweetness and enhanced fruit notes. This lot of Obata underwent Natural processing and was dried on large black sheets made of braided plastic threads, known as zaran.
The harvested cherries are first floated in fresh spring water to remove defects and field impurities, then spread in thin layers on the zaran and dried in direct sunlight. At the end of each day, the sheets are rolled up with a tractor and stacked overnight. Drying takes around two weeks, until the coffee reaches 14% humidity. The coffee is then stored in Sonora’s warehouse to rest. Shortly before milling, the drying process is completed in mechanical dryers known as “guardiolas.”