Morning Glory | Guatemala & Ethiopia, Espresso blend

Country: Guatemala & Ethiopia

Region : Huehuetenango & Yirgacheffe 

Producers: Regional smallholders of origins

Taste notes - Bean-to-bar chocolate, cranberry, acerola cherry, marzipan.

This amazing espresso consists of two completely distinct coffees - washed Guatemala and anaerobically fermented Ethiopia. This duo results in a medium round chocolaty body with sparkling and bright fermentation notes combining in long lasting aftertaste. 

In this espresso notes of bean-to-bar chocolate mixes with marzipan and the complex acidity of acerola cherry and cranberry. 

Origins

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is like the first flower buds of spring, evoking anticipation and joy while filling the air with bright aromatic notes. 

As the birthplace of coffee, this origin offers a wide spectrum of flavors and aromas, ranging from citric notes to sweet stone fruits and juicy tropical fruits, all combining with floral, spicy, and tea-like nuances in a single cup. Ethiopia is renowned for its regions, each boasting specific taste profiles. For example, Sidamo coffees exhibit a tea-like profile, while Guji combines ripe fruit sweetness with jasmine notes and a hint of funkiness. 

In this case, coffee comes from Yirgacheffe which is well-known for its complex cup profile, ranging from a serene tea-like experience to the presence of fresh fruits and berries in the cup, sometimes accompanied by a winy aftertaste. The complexity of this region's coffee can be attributed to its soil, altitude, and climate, which slow the ripening process of cherries, allowing for a more intricate taste profile to develop. Despite its current recognition, Yirgacheffe was once classified under the Gedeo zone as a woreda (district) and blended with other regions. 

Guatemala

Guatemala is located in Central America, with Mexico to the northwest and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. Before the arrival of the Spanish, many Mayan cultures thrived in Guatemala, and their culture, food, rituals, and beliefs continue to shape the country today. Modern Guatemala is a mosaic of cosmopolitan urban centers and communities steeped in Mayan tradition and culture – and at its center is coffee, a crop with roots in the economy and history of the country. Guatemala is colorful, complex, and breathtaking in all its ways. The past of Guatemalan coffee-producing regions used to be rough at times, but the future is full of promise. Estimates indicate that there are approximately  125,000 coffee farmers in Guatemala who make up 2% of the global coffee market. 

Processing

Ethiopia - Natural (Anaerobic)

During harvest, coffee cherries are handpicked by smallholders of the Negele Gurbitu cooperative. The cherries are then transported to the cooperative's washing station, where they undergo sorting, with only the ripest cherries selected for further processing. These cherries are placed in stainless steel tanks, from which oxygen is removed using a vacuum pump. 

After 18-24 hours, the anaerobic fermentation process begins as CO2 builds up pressure in the tanks, forcing the flavors of the juicy mucilage into the coffee beans. This process lasts 4-5 days until the cherries change their color from red to yellow. Afterward, the coffee is carefully removed from the tanks and dried for 15-18 days on African drying beds under direct sunlight. The remaining pulp is removed, and the coffee beans are dried further to prevent molding. Finally, the husk is removed, and the beans are packed into 60kg bags.

Guatemala - Washed

Coffee cherries are harvested and delivered to the processing facility by Primavera Family smallholders. There, the cherries are sorted and washed in water, where the so-called "floaters" are separated from the crop. Afterward, the coffee is pulped, and the beans are fully washed. Then, the coffee beans are dried for more than 20 days until they reach their target moisture level. After that, this coffee lot is hulled, separating green coffee from its protective parchment. In the end, coffee is packed in 69 kg bags, and prepared for shipment.