Gamatui - Natural

MEET THE PRODUCER |  Thanks to our longstanding partnership with Atlantic Specialty Coffee and its sister company, Kawacom, we have had the privilege of tasting and buying coffee from the Gamatui Community in Uganda for over half a decade. Local farmers from throughout the Gamatui community bring their freshly harvested cherries to Sipi Falls, who manages the washing, drying, and milling processes all together. This cuts down on labor for the farmers and also increases the quality and value of each lot, ultimately resulting in better price outcomes for the farmers of Gamatui.

TRUST THE PROCESS | This lot, a naturally processed coffee, was fermented in water for 48 hours before being re-washed and sent off to African-style raised beds for drying. This particular processing method takes much longer than traditional coffees and can vary greatly depending on humidity, temperature, and sunlight. While drying, the coffee itself is frequently turned so that an even and precise moisture content is achieved. Once that happens, the skin and pulp of the cherries are finally removed, leaving us with coffee beans which have been noticeably (and deliciously) impacted by the sweet, fruity mucillage of the cherry throughout the drying process.

TAKE A SIP |  The Gamatui community is well known for rolling out coffees that are distinctly grape-y in flavor. This flavor call, which we've experienced as everything from Welch's grape juice to grape Jolly Ranchers to (in today’s case) fresh red grapes, is both rare and delicious—and it's a big part of why we come back to their naturally processed  coffees year after year. This season's lot is sweet like powdered sugar and smooth like milk chocolate, with some pleasant stone fruit notes (like nectarine) accompanying that infamous grape flavor.

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Origin | Kapchorwa, Mt. Elgon, Uganda

Producer | smallholders in the Gamatui community

Washing Station | Sipi Falls Washing Station

Process | Natural

Variety | various SL varieties

Elevation | 1600-1900 MASL

Sourced from smallholders in the Gamatui community of the Kapchorwa region on Mt. Elgon, this Ugandan offering showcases the potential of the area’s diverse SL varietals. Grown at elevations between 1600 and 1900 masl, the coffee undergoes a natural process, which often imparts a distinct sweetness and heavier body compared to washed counterparts. You can learn more about how these processing methods influence the final cup profile in our educational guide.

Roasted by Black & White Coffee Roasters, this lot presents a complex interplay of fruit-forward acidity and confectionary sweetness, featuring notes of fresh red grapes, powdered sugar, milk chocolate, and nectarine. When evaluating such nuanced profiles, we recommend referencing the flavor wheel to better identify the specific aromatic compounds present. This selection highlights the unique terroir of Mt. Elgon, providing a vibrant example of what Ugandan smallholders can achieve through careful natural processing.