Why We Love This Coffee
The Haro Harsu Natural is produced at the Harsu washing station in Uraga, Guji, which falls under the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. This area is oftentimes mistakenly known as Sidamo Guji, but instead should be known only as Guji or West-Guji on its own. We’ve featured both washed and natural coffees from this area for years and they continue to impress us. The cherry comes from many small-holder farmers in the area.
This particular lot was harvested when the cherries were between 18-22° Brix for optimal sweetness. The cherries were then hand-sorted and dried on raised beds for 18-30 days, with regular rotation and turning to ensure the drying happens evenly. On particularly hot and sunny days, the cherries were covered to protect them from the extreme heat, which also contributes to the even drying. Uneven drying can lead to defects due to the fermentation process getting out of control. The drying continues until 10-12% moisture is reached, after which the cherries are milled and prepared for export. The final preparations include triple-pass color sorting and another round of hand sorting.
