Ethiopia Bookkisa Espresso

Tasting notes: Red plum, dark chocolate, lavender and rockmelon.

Coffee breakdown:
Origin: Guji, Ethiopia
Variety: Gibirinna 74110, Serto 74112
Process: Natural
Altitude: 2150 m

Before then, coffee from these areas was processed together at a single site. Sawana now works with about 30 smallholder farmers, who cultivate coffee on small plots, often alongside subsistence crops. Unlike large estates in Latin America, Ethiopian farms typically span just a few hectares, with lower planting densities and naturally organic cultivation practices.

Sookoo Coffee, founded by Ture Waji and his brother Assefa in 2018, is a renowned producer in Guji. Initially operating from a single drying station in Suke Quto, they expanded to Sawana in 2022 and Weessi in 2023, introducing wet processing to their capabilities. Sookoo sources cherries from surrounding kebeles, with lots named after their origin, such as Shoondhisa and Bookkisa.

The Gibirinna 74110 and Serto 74112 varietals used in this lot were selected for their resilience against Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC) in 1974. These varieties now thrive across Ethiopia, producing distinctive, high-quality coffees.

This coffee stood out on the cupping table for its rich, jammy body and layered complexity. It’s a particular favourite of Beau, our café partner manager in Victoria, who has followed its evolution over the years in a previous role as a coffee buyer.

We are thrilled to showcase this outstanding coffee and the dedication of the producers behind it.