Ethiopia — Elto Coffee Mofa Station Heirloom (Washed Honey)

Tastes Like — 🍒 Cranberry • 🍑 Nectarine • 🍵 Kombucha

DETAILS

• Producer: Elto Coffee (Eliyas Dukamo & Atiklit Dejene)
• Station: Mofa
• Region: Arbegona, Sidama, Ethiopia
• Varietal: Heirloom
• Process: Washed Honey
• Altitude: 2,300–2,450 masl
• Crop: Processed January 2026, arrived June 2026

INTRO From Elto Coffee's Mofa station in Arbegona, Sidama — a washed honey lot with a tart, tea-like character. Cranberry and nectarine sweetness lead, with a kombucha-like tang running throughout. In the cup: cranberry, nectarine, and kombucha.

THE PRODUCER Elto Coffee was founded by Eliyas Dukamo and Atiklit Dejene, a husband-and-wife team deeply immersed in specialty coffee. The name "Elto" derives from the local language, meaning "surpassing passion" and "abundance." Operating a mill in Sidama, Ethiopia, Elto Coffee specialises in exclusive experimental micro-lot processing techniques spanning washed, natural, and honey profiles, striving to set exemplary standards for the trade.

THE PROCESS Ripe cherries go through flotation sorting to separate fruit by density and quality, then ferment inside sealed tanks. Once fermentation finishes, the cherries are rinsed to remove the outer pulp while retaining the sweet mucilage layer. The parchment is then spread onto wooden African raised beds, 1.2 meters above ground and lined with breathable mesh, at a uniform 3–5cm thickness for even airflow. Female farm staff turn the coffee every 20–30 minutes for consistent, even dehydration, with strict cleanliness maintained throughout to prevent contamination of the sticky mucilage.

The retained mucilage layer combined with the meticulous, frequent-turning drying protocol is the defining step — it's what builds the tart cranberry and kombucha-like tang that define this cup, layered over a naturally sweet nectarine base.

THE CUP Tart and lively — cranberry sweetness up front, nectarine depth through the middle, and a kombucha-like tang on the finish. A precise, experimental honey process from one of Sidama's most detail-oriented mills.

Flavour Notes 🍒 Cranberry 🍑 Nectarine 🍵 Kombucha