Danche - Red Honey

MEET THE PRODUCER | You're probably getting pretty used to seeing Negusse Debela's name on our menu. He's the computer-guru-turned-coffee-producer who has been making all kinds of waves throughout the specialty coffee community in Ethiopia for nearly two decades. Prior to 2008, Negusse was known as "the computer guy" in his hometown of Addis Ababa, where he ran a successful computer parts import company. While in America on a business trip, he tasted a pourover at a café in Minnesota that changed the trajectory of his career—and the object of his entrepreneurial spirit.

Established in 2008, Negusse's new endeavor, SNAP Specialty Coffee, seeks to provide specialty Ethiopian coffees processed consistently and exceptionally. They run or partner with several washing and processing stations throughout Ethiopia, including the two Worka Chelbesa washing stations in Gedeb. Today's release hails from Wate Danche, the second iteration of Worka Chelbessa and the site of some really remarkable achievements in Ethiopian processing methods.

TRUST THE PROCESS | The honey process involves pulping coffee cherry in a way that removes the outer skin of the fruit, yet preserves most of the fruit mucilage around the seed. The coffee is left to ferment in this fruit, which turns dark and sticky as it breaks down. It’s this goopy appearance that gives it the name “honey” for its visual similarity. After fermentation, the coffee is washed clean with water and dried to an optimal moisture level.

TAKE A SIP | At first blush, you might think this coffee is washed. It’s very floral and super sweet, but as you taste closely, you may notice it has a more fruited character that derives from the honey processing. Instead of the classic lemon, honey, and black tea that we expect from washed coffees out of Gedeo, we’re experiencing white flowers, complemented by tropical fruits like mango & pineapple. Peach emerges, and the classic black tea note prevails.

Origin | Gedeb, Gedeo, Ethiopia

Producer | SNAP Specialty Coffees

Washing Station | Wate Danche

Process | Red Honey

Variety | Ethiopian landrace varieties

Elevation | 2200 MASL

Sourced from the Gedeb district of the Gedeo zone, this Ethiopian landrace selection is brought to market by Black & White Coffee Roasters. The coffee is produced by SNAP Specialty Coffees and grown at an elevation of 2200 masl. It undergoes a red honey process, a technique that leaves a portion of the fruit mucilage on the bean during drying to influence the final cup profile. You can learn more about how this impacts the bean's development in our processing methods explainer.

Coffees from Ethiopia · Gedeb, Gedeo are frequently celebrated for their complex, aromatic profiles. While honey-processed coffees often bridge the gap between the clarity of washed lots and the intensity of naturals, this specific lot highlights notes of white flowers, mango, pineapple, peach, and black tea. To better understand how these descriptors relate to broader sensory categories, consult our flavor wheel.