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Ashenafi Getaneh's Gerse Black Honey Landrace
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Ashenafi Getaneh's Gerse Black Honey Landrace

Ashenafi Getaneh's Gerse Black Honey Landrace

$14.00

Ashenafi Getaneh owns a washing station, drying site, and farm in Aricha and Ela Telicha. Ashenafi started his coffee business back in 2005, and has since grown the operation to these two sites. Still, his station in Aricha is just 2.2 hectares and the farm in Ela Talicha just 3.5 hectares. To keep increasing their volume, he continues to buy from local Gerse smallholders looking to sell their harvest and provides jobs for those on working on the mill and farm. He's also found other ways to uplift the local community, such as building a town meeting hall and a few homes for the elder community members in Ela Talicha. We asked for this lot after liking the other Gerse lot so much. Although the composition of landrace is slightly different, it's a unique opportunity to taste the similar coffee from growers in Gerse, but with dramatically different processing. Although this cup is a black honey, it is a pretty low funk tea-like cup with a creamy mouthfeel, and lingering delicate purple florals.

The cup profile has a subtler tartaric acid reminiscent of red grape. The body is mildly ferment-y, which creates a velvety mouthfeel. At hot, we're greeted with dried tropical fruits, like mango and passionfruit. This slowly transitions into an homogenous note we are calling Marigold Papayo. At cooler temperatures, the body transitions to peach and cooked apple. The aroma while brewing has jasmine and lavender; the linger tastes of violet.

This coffee launched on August 18th as part of Drop 11!
Farm and Producer

Ashenafi Getaneh owns a washing station, drying site, and farm in Aricha and Ela Telicha. He started back in 2005 just working to produce washed coffee, but has since expended into naturals. His station in Aricha is just 2.2 hectares and his farm, in Ela Telicha, just 3.5 hectares. To increase their volume, they continue to buy from local Gerse smallholders looking to sell their harvest.

What is particularly admirable about Ashenafi is his interest in giving back to his community. His station provides free compost back to the smallholder producers he purchases coffee from. Along with a meeting hall, Ashenafi has also used the businesses funds to build three homes now for elderly community members.
Coffee Varietal and Processing

We've labeled this lot as solely landrace. Ethiopian landrace (a.k.a. heirloom), which implies its any unclassified but native coffee variety to Ethiopia's forest. The importer also lists 74110, 74112, and 74114 JARC seeds. These names come from the research labs they were classified in.

This is a very traditionally honey process. "Black" honey refers to a maximum amount of mucilage left on the seed after depulping. The ripest cherries are handpicked and then depulped. Later, they are left to dry (with their mucilage still intact) on African raised beds in the sun. Seeds are handsorted on the beds during drying. Drying typically takes 10-15 days for this processing.
Cost Transparency

Why we purchased.

Green cost: $17.6/kg ($2.08/kg freight)
Package and roasting costs: $2.91/bag; $10/kg
Profile and sample use: ~0kg
Approx. Margin: --%
Brewing and Resting Recommendation

Resting: Wait 30 days for the Nordic and 40 days for the Ultralight to have a less gassy tasting experience. Degas the night before by opening bag and then sealing. We're impatient and think this has tasted peak flavor (but gassy) as early as 21 days after roast too.

We've primarily enjoyed this offering as a pourover.

Temperature range: 198-201°F
Water: Tap/Demineralized and Third Wave Water Light Roast
Grind Settings: Medium Coarse (700-750µm)
Target Drawdown Time: 2:45-3:00

4 Pour Recipe:
1. Pour 1/4 water every 30 seconds with high agitiation. Swirl the dripper on the bloom.
Drop Variants

Drops are typically prepared in two formats: a standard 100g / 200g bag offering at your preferred roast level or as a roast experiment.

  • Standard bag lets you support the producer, exporter, and the project without having to buy and drink coffee you're less interested in. You still get to observe and critique our roast methods at your preferred lightness but in larger quantities.
  • Roast experiment lets you participate in 3 blind tastings of 60g bags to evaluate 3 different roast curves. After the drops have been released, profile info and our own sensory feedback will be shared alongside any collected feedback from tasters.

Note that roast level selection does not apply to experiments sent out.
When will I get my order?

This is a side project that isn't in a place to pay our bills at the moment. We're actively trying our best in the two days we work on Base Coat a week to fulfill as quickly as possible. Volume has gone significantly up recently -- a great problem to have -- and we're doing our best to adapt. We roast every two weeks and try to get orders out within a week of your order placement. At latest, it takes us two weeks and if that is the case, expect an extra item in your bag as an apology.

Our times vary on roaster rental availability and our limited roasting schedule. We typically roast on two subsequent days twice a month. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information. Delivery times vary on location.
Return policy

Because we are selling an agricultural product with limited shelf life, we do not accept returns. However, our goal is for every customer to be absolutely satisfied with their purchase. If you aren't enjoying the experience, let us know in an Instagram DM and we'll do our best to work with you to make it right!

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