Tasting Notes: Cardamom, Anise, Cocoa
Blend of coffees from Ethiopia, Guatemala & India
Ethiopia
Several Smallholder Farmers | Region: Guji, Ethiopia | Varietal: Ethiopia Landraces | Mill/Washing Station: Taro Washing Station | Importer: Red Fox | Processing: Natural + Washed | Altitude: 1,800–2,100 MASL
Guatemala
Ella Todos Santos Women Producer Group | Region: Huehuetenango, Guatemala | Varietal: Bourbon, Caturra, Catuaí, Pache, Yellow Pache | Mill/Washing Station: On the Farms | Importer: Onyx | Processing: Natural + Washed | Altitude: 1,200–1,950 MASL
India
Ashok Patre | Region: Bababudangiri, Chikmagalur, India | Varietal: Catuai, Caturra | Mill/Washing Station: Ratnagiri Estate | Importer: Covoya | Processing: Natural + Washed | Altitude: 1,200–1,500 MASL
Our average cupping score:
Ethiopia: 85.5
Guatemala: 85.5
India: 85
About the Producers
Ethiopia: Kayon Mountain Farm, established in 2012 in Ethiopia’s Guji Zone, is a family-owned coffee farm. Located in Taro Kebele, where coffee is the primary cash crop, the farm supports local producers through its Taro washing station.
Beyond coffee production, Kayon Mountain prioritizes social responsibility by having built a local high school, distributing seedlings, aiding farmers financially, and supporting an orphanage. The 150-hectare farm, with fertile volcanic soil, employs 30 permanent and up to 450 seasonal workers. Coffee trees, intercropped with shade-providing false banana trees, yield harvests from October to January.
Taro washing station processes coffees meticulously: for the natural process, cherries are hand-sorted, floated to remove unripe cherries, and sun-dried on raised beds for 15–18 days, with careful turning and covering to ensure even drying. Though challenging, skilled natural processing enhances the coffee’s terroir, yielding sweet, fruity profiles.
Kayon Mountain combines premium coffee production with community development, improving livelihoods while delivering exceptional coffees.
Guatemala: Nestled in the highlands near Todos Santos, a group of courageous women dared to challenge the status quo of their community. Despite facing limited access and discrimination, they embarked on a journey to create a coffee that would not only bring them more financial stability but also help uplift their community. These women came together to form a collective known as "Mujeres luchando por un mejor futuro," or "Women fighting for a better future".
With a lot of time and hard work, they were able to gain access to the necessary resources to produce a delicious, high quality coffee. Their membership has grown to 276 women as “Mujeres luchando por un mejor futuro” continue to inspire women from neighboring communities within Todos Santos to follow their footsteps and create their own paths.
The coffee they produce is also known as "Ella": the direct translation of “ELLA” into English is “SHE”, but ELLA is a coffee that represents the resilience, strength, and determination of these women. It's a coffee that's produced with care and attention to detail, reflecting the hard work and dedication of Ilse, Gresdi, Elionora, Rebeca, Lorena, Julia Cifuentes, Adhani Alba to name a few.
India: Ratnagiri Estate is a 45 hectare (112 acres) estate established in 1920, and is currently owned and operated by Ashok Patre, having been passed down within his family for three generations.
Driftaway founders Anu and Suyog visited Mr. Patre in February of 2024, touring his farm and learning about the coffees and his process. Along with washed process coffees like this one, Mr. Patre produces natural and honey processed coffees. Drawing inspiration from other coffee origin countries, he steps beyond the boundaries of traditional Indian coffee cultivation and processing, conducting fermentation experiments, such as using anerobic methods he learned in Colombia.
Ratnagiri Estate maintains Rainforest Alliance certification. The estate is a lush shaded environment with 3 stories of shade. It is home to over 48 recorded bird populations, monkeys, leopards, wild boar, tigers, mongoose and - on occasion - elephants.
Mr. Patre uses organic fertilizer and compost to fertilize trees. The farm is fed by 2 freshwater streams, and he has implemented a strict protocol for processing wastewater before releasing it back into the environment. At intake, coffee fruit (cherry) is pulped on a mechanical Ecopulper that has reduced water use by 65%The rich biodiversity demands that Mr. Patre and his family have an approach to farming which places ecology and harmony with the environment at the forefront.
What makes this coffee stand out
Winter Spice is a delicious blend of three coffees we have previously featured as single origin. This blend is perfect for winter given its smooth, spiced flavor profile and dark roast profile. From Ethiopia, the Shakiso adds a complex sweetness to the blend. The Guatemala Todos Santos adds depth with this incredible coffee from women farmers. Finally, the India Ratnagiri adds structure and warm, spiced notes.
Pour over recipe:
Ratio: 18g coffee, 320g water | Grind: Medium | Water: 198F
0:00 80 g (bloom)
0:30 200 g
1:00 320 g
3:30 Target brew time
