Country: Ethiopia
Grade: 2
Region: Suke Quto, Guji Zone, Oromiya Woreda
Processing: Wet process
Arrival Date: August 2012 Arrival
Appearance: .4 d/300gr, 16-18 Screen
Varietal: Local Ethiopia cultivars
Intensity/Prime Attribute: Medium intensity / Clear and clean fruit, candied sweetness
Roast: City to City+ captures the fruit and floral attributes: Light roasts really capture the essence of this coffee. For espresso we take it to a Full City, not quite to 2nd crack.
Guji Shakiso is a coffee that comes out of a “private” cooperative in that it is owned and operated by a single farmer. The coffee cooperative is comprised of the surrounding farmers in the area, and is replete with two washing stations where farmers are able to have their coffee cherry processed. The people are known as Gujii Oromo, and coffee farming has been a core part of the culture in the highland areas. It's a distinct coffee from Yirga Cheffe, and Sidamo. There is a commitment to the farm workers and assistance is provided in the form of agricultural education and tools, onsite agronomists, as well as a local health care system. Geographically, culturally, and in terms of cup flavors, these southern coffees have a different flavor profile while maintaining the same general characteristics; citrus and floral accents, a lively cup character. Add to this the fact that cultivars used in Ethiopia are largely regional, distinct local strains of coffees that have spread from the wild forest plants of western Ethiopia, to Harar in the East and to the southern districts like Guji. Because this is privately owned farm land and they process their own coffee, they have license to export, and ultimately we're able to form this direct trade link with them.
This lot of Suke Quto is cupping so well. It's a complex coffee with amazing floral attributes, excellent sweetness, and beautifully balanced. The dry fragrance has candied sweetness, cinnamon stick, floral honey, and dried mango. Deeper roasts have a burned sugar quality that is like toffee. The wet aroma shows even more sweetness with baked peach and apricot, dried wildflowers, and nutmeg. There's even a bit of cherry pie on the break along with a note of Assam tea. As a cup, this coffee really shines. It's a transparent cup with Jasmine tea, and peach hard candy. This is a juicy coffee and the fruit flavors really come to fore as the cup cools. Light roasts have stone fruits, green grape, Asian pear, and melon. Caramelized sugars are front and center, especially in Full City roasts and beyond, with notes of dark brown sugar and coffee cake crust. There's a malic brightness throughout the roast spectrum that frames the bouquet of fruit and flowers quite nicely. The mouthfeel is viscous and reminded me a bit of apple juice in its texture. Excellent as a single origin (SO) espresso or as a component to your next espresso blend.