Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters Organic Ethiopia Guji, Ground Coffee, Medium Roast, 12 oz (340 g)

We are very pleased to offer this beautiful, certified organic coffee from fourth generation producer, Akilu Kassa and his son, Biniam Aklilu Kassa. At nearly 6,500 feet elevation in the Oromia Region and West Guji Zone, Akilu produces Typica and other local heirloom varieties (one aptly named simply "Guji") under the protection of natural shade trees that include enset (false banana), bamboo, avocado and lastly wanza, which is a multi-purpose, indigenous tree whose leaves are used as fertilizer and wood for fuel, tools and furniture. This coffee is also C.A.F.E. certified as being sustainably grown and processed, a ranking achieved through the evaluation of economic, social and environmental aspects of the coffee production. In the cup you'll find a distinct brightness and a layering of notes of lemonade, pink lady apple, coffee flower, dried eucalyptus, lemon balm and english breakfast tea. Akilu Kassa and his son, Biniam are the chief operators and proud owners of the Bedessa wash station which draws its water from the nearby stream named "Dhadhatu". For generations these families have grown and picked from their own 'back-yard' plots, ranging 1-4 acres in size. Incredibly, coffee here flourishes in the wild as a sustainable cash crop along with a variety of mango and banana. Once the coffee cherries are pulped and washed, they're fermented for between 16-48 hours (depending on temperature, cloud cover, etc) and then laid out to sun dry on drying tables where they're stirred regularly and covered when the sun is hottest, from noon to 3:00PM. The Kassa family history with coffee runs deep; a few decades ago his grandfather received a 1,200 acre land grant in Guji during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. Aklilu's father made Guji history in 1995 by founding the very first privately-owned washing station, following many years working as a cherry collections agent. This first wash station by the name of Kassa Chirressa was where Aklilu, then 28, began working for his father, who still operates the mill. "At that time" recalls Akilu, "Guji along with Yirgacheffe, Kochere, and dozens of other now-distinct districts were known as Sidama coffee. As an aside, Hegar Mariam is 186 rough-and-tumble miles from Kenya's northern border. The Guji Zone of Southern Ethiopia borders the lush zones of Sidama and West Arsi to the north, the Bale Zone to the east, and the famous Gedeo Zone to the West. Given their closeness, Guji and Gedeo share many crossover characteristics in coffee processing and production, resulting in similar bright, sparkly coffees with heavy floral notes and an overall delicacy. Coffee production in these zones (and throughout the majority of Ethiopia) is generally achieved by small farm holders and cooperatives and not single estate owners.