Gamatui - Natural

Details:

• Origin: Uganda — Gamatui Community, Kapchorwa / Mt. Elgon

• Producer: Smallholder farmers from the Gamatui community (processed at Sipi Falls Washing Station)

• Varietal: Various SL varieties

• Process: Natural

• Elevation: 1,600–1,900 m

• Bag Size: 340 g

• Roast: Medium

• Tasting Notes: Red grape, Powdered Sugar, Nectarine & Milk Chocolate

Black & White is delighted to present Gamatui Natural, a vibrant and fruit‑forward coffee from the Gamatui community on the slopes of Mount Elgon in Uganda. Naturally processed to enhance sweetness and complexity, this lot delivers an expressive, juicy cup defined by bold grape character, sweet stone fruit notes, and a lingering richness that’s both playful and sophisticated.

The Producer:

This coffee comes from the Gamatui community, a group of smallholder producers in eastern Uganda who bring their ripe cherries to the Sipi Falls Washing Station. Black & White has sourced from this community through a longstanding relationship with partners like Atlantic Specialty Coffee and Kawacom, which helps support collective farming efforts and quality improvements. The centralized washing and drying processes also ensure better working conditions and improved value for farmers in the region — a key part of why Gamatui coffees continue to impress.

The Process:

This lot is crafted using a natural process, where fully ripe cherries are dried with their fruit still intact, allowing prolonged contact between bean and fruit mucilage. Before drying, the cherries are fermented in water for about 48 hours, then re‑washed and placed on African raised beds to dry slowly under the sun. Frequent turning and careful monitoring during drying lead to even moisture reduction and intensely developed sweetness and fruit character.

The Cup:

In the cup, Gamatui Natural is deliciously juicy and layered. Bright red grape 🍇 notes lead the way, reminiscent of fresh Welch’s grape juice, while nectarine 🍑 adds succulent, stone‑fruit sweetness. A powdered sugar 🍬‑like sweetness underpins the profile, smoothing into a milk chocolate 🍫‑like finish that lingers gently on the palate. The result is a rich yet balanced cup with fruit intensity and smooth, dessert‑like depth.

Overall:

Black & White’s Gamatui Natural is a standout example of what natural processing and excellent terroir can achieve in specialty coffee. With its bold fruit character, layered sweetness, and inviting finish, it’s a memorable choice for filter brewing and a joyful cup for anyone who loves expressive, fruit‑driven profiles with a smooth, chocolaty endnote.

What is the roast recency?

We recommend brewing with beans that are at least two weeks off roast. All beans are roasted to peak flavour at around 6-12 weeks. We have the option to either purchase standard beans (at least 2 weeks but no longer than 6 weeks off roast), or rested beans (at least 7 weeks off roast, no longer than 12 - should we have any left in stock!). For peak flavour, if you are looking to use immediately, we recommend purchasing the rested beans. If you are adding to your rotation of beans, we recommend purchasing the standard and allowing the beans to naturally rest and mature whilst you rotate through other beans.