Variety: Heirloom cultivars

Region:Yirgacheffe

Process: Natural

Producer: Konga Washing Station

Type: grade 1

Coffee Altitude. 1,400 - 2,200 m.

Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Konga - natural arabica, grade 1

The birthplace of Arabica, deep in the Yirgacheffe Mountains of southern Ethiopia, is home to the small but famous Konga community. Here, a wild and free hereditary variety of arabica grows, shaded by fake banana trees and cooled by the high mountain winds. It's a place where coffee is not just a plant - it's a culture, a heritage and an everyday life.

At the heart of the history of Congo coffee is the Congo Wash, a vital hub where some 650 small farmers bring their freshly picked cherries. Each farmer looks after just a few hectares, often with trees that have been handed down from generation to generation. The station specialises in both natural and washed processes, but this particular batch is natural - sun-dried with the fruit still intact.

The cherries are spread on raised African beds over 15-20 days and regularly turned over in the sun. This slow drying process allows the sugar in the fruit to soak into the seeds and reveal an expressive flavour profile, which brings out notes of apricot, floral citrus and mild Darjeeling tea. The result is a clean but juicy cup with a silky mouthfeel and a bright, refreshing finish.

This coffee is a celebration of its origins, grown in the wild Ethiopian soil, meticulously processed and closely linked to the rhythm of the land and the life of the farmers who grow it.