Ethiopia Shantawene Natural

LIGHTER ROAST | Blackberry | Honey | Floral | Chocolate 

We love natural processed coffees from Sidama, and this one comes to us from the Shantawane Washing Station. Shantawene is near the base of the Bombe mountains in southern Ethiopia where exceptional coffees are grown and we find some of our favorite lots annually.

The station pays premiums to smallholder farmers to deliver extremely high-quality and freshly picked cherries. In turn, the majority of coffee is delivered to the station from growers in the nearby villages of Shantawene and Bombe and doesn't have to travel far. Upon arrival at Shantawene, the cherries are evaluated based on color, ripeness, and density before being floated. The cherries are then dried on raised beds and rotated consistently to ensure even drying.

Sourced from the Shantawene Washing Station in the Sidama region of Ethiopia, this Ethiopia Shantawene Natural is a standout offering from Magnolia Coffee. The coffee undergoes a natural process, a method where the coffee cherry is dried intact around the bean, often resulting in a more pronounced sweetness and complex body compared to washed counterparts.

In the cup, this lot presents a profile defined by blackberry, honey, floral, and chocolate notes. When evaluating such distinct flavor profiles, it can be helpful to reference a flavor wheel to better identify the nuances between the fruit-forward acidity and the deeper, cocoa-toned base. Because natural-processed coffees from this region are frequently celebrated for their vibrant, jammy characteristics, this selection serves as an excellent example of the unique terroir found within the high-elevation landscapes of Sidama.