BASHA BEKELE – CUP OF EXCELLENCE WINNER

From the lush, high-altitude hills of the Sidama region (approximately 2,300 meters above sea level) comes this exceptional microlot produced by Basha Bekele. His farms stretch above the areas of Bombe and Murago, where he cultivates variety 74158 in a semi-forested environment that ensures slow cherry maturation, cool nights, and meticulous selection. After leaving the cooperative system through which he once sold his coffee cherries, Basha assumed full control of the entire chain — from farm to export. In 2024, he won the prestigious Ethiopia Cup of Excellence with an outstanding score of 90.50 points.

Basha Bekele is internationally respected for his precision and quality, as well as for his obsessive cherry selection, exceptionally clean fermentation, and flavor expression that consistently surpasses typical Ethiopian natural coffees.

Process and Character

Ripe cherries are hand-harvested and first sorted through flotation to remove lower-density, less desirable fruit. This is followed by an experimental natural process with anaerobic fermentation: whole cherries are submerged in cool running water for up to seven days, where controlled fermentation takes place. After fermentation, the cherries are slowly dried on raised mesh beds — partially shaded — to preserve complexity and clarity of flavor.

The result is a coffee of remarkable purity, with pronounced sweetness and vibrant citrus and tropical notes (mango, pineapple, mandarin, lime), complemented by floral tones of black tea and delicate hints of blueberry and cherry.