Ethiopia – Basha Bekele Honey 74158
Tastes Like — jasmine 🌼 • mulberry 🫐 • mango 🥭 • orange 🍊
Size: 8oz / 227g
Roast: Light
Recommended Rest: 4–6 weeks
Region: Bombe, Bensa, Ethiopia
Elevation: 2350 MASL
Producer: Basha Bekele
Variety: 74158 (“Walega”)
Process: Honey
This lot comes from Basha Bekele, one of Bensa’s most respected producers and a growing leader in the Bombe community. We visited his drying station on our second day in Bensa, where we learned more about the Bekele family legacy.
Before Ethiopia’s export regulations changed, both Basha and his father—who also helped build a church for the community—sold their coffee through the local cooperative that supplied the Sidama Union. After obtaining his export license, Basha began developing his own production and collection network, now managing 12 hectares of semi-forested farmland and multiple cherry collection sites in Bombe, Shantawane, and Kokose, reaching farmers cultivating up to 2300 MASL.
Despite high cherry prices this season, Basha did something rare: he delivered a second payment to all 126 smallholders who sold cherry to him—ensuring they benefited directly from the final sale price. His processing style leans heavily toward dry and experimental methods, including selective anaerobic fermentations and shade-controlled drying. This is our first-ever honey lot from Basha, and a standout from the year’s harvest.
WHY WE SELECTED THIS COFFEEThis release marks an exciting milestone: Moonwake's very first honey-processed coffee from Basha—and unquestionably our favourite lot from him so far.
The cup begins with crisp, fragrant jasmine florals, followed by a rich wave of mulberry sweetness that anchors the cup with depth and structure. As the coffee cools, it opens into lush mango tropical fruit, finishing with clean, sweet orange citrus that brings energy and brightness to the aftertaste.
This is a beautifully expressive coffee—layered, vibrant, and refined—showcasing both the exceptional elevation of Bombe and the meticulous care of Basha’s processing. It’s a coffee with clarity, sweetness, and dimension in equal measure.