Ethiopia — Mate Matiwos Keramo 74158 (Honey)

Tastes Like — 🍇 Berries • 🍈 Tropical Fruit • 🍊 Bergamot

DETAILS

• Producer: Mate Matiwos
• Region: Keramo, Sidama, Ethiopia
• Varietal: 74158
• Process: Honey
• Elevation: 2,300 masl
• Harvest: January 2026
• FOB Price: $23.10/kg | DDP: $27.89/kg

INTRO
A first year working with Mate Matiwos's coffee from Keramo, brought in with real love and intentionality. Berries and tropical fruit lead, with a bergamot brightness throughout. In the cup: berries, tropical fruit, and bergamot.

THE PRODUCER
This is the first year buying coffee from Mate Matiwos in Keramo. Mate has only been separating and selling his own coffee for a couple of years, and the quality is already excellent — a visit is planned on the next trip to Sidama to learn more about the work behind this lot.

74158 is a JARC selection, one of around 40 varieties developed by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center, one of Ethiopia's federal agricultural research bodies. Approved for release in 1979, it originated from the Metu Bishari Selections, taken from mother plants in the Metu woreda of the Illubabor zone, and was propagated for its high yield potential and resistance to coffee berry disease.

THE PROCESS
Cherries are hand-picked at peak ripeness and floated to remove defects, then de-pulped as quickly as possible, intentionally leaving on a small amount of mucilage. The coffee dries on shaded beds with that mucilage intact until moisture content reaches roughly 10%.

The quick de-pulping with mucilage intentionally retained is the defining step — this light honey-style contact is what builds the berry and tropical fruit sweetness, with bergamot brightness layered on top.

THE CUP
Fruit-forward and bright — berries and tropical fruit sweetness up front, with a bergamot brightness on the finish. A strong debut from a producer just beginning to separate his own coffee.

Flavour Notes
🍇 Berries 🍈 Tropical Fruit 🍊 Bergamot