Details:

• Origin: Ethiopia, Sidama

• Producer: Bekele Yutute

• Variety: JARC 74158

• Process: Natural

• Elevation: Very high altitude (around ~2,300 m)

• Bag Size: 125g

• Roast: Filter

• Tasting Notes: Violet 🌸 • Hibiscus 🌺 • Blackberry jam 🍇

Intro:

Shoebox is thrilled to showcase Ethiopia Bekele Yutute Natural, a striking and expressive single‑origin coffee from the renowned Bensa region of Sidama, Ethiopia. This naturally processed lot embodies the vibrant fruit complexity and floral elegance that has made Bekele’s coffees sought‑after in specialty circles, offering a juicy and evolving cup that’s as captivating as it is nuanced.

The Producer:

At the heart of this microlot is Bekele Yutute, a celebrated producer and exporter whose attention to detail and quality has earned recognition — including multiple placements in Ethiopia’s Cup of Excellence competition over recent years. Working across family‑owned farms and drying stations throughout Bensa, Bekele has built a reputation for consistently clean, expressive natural coffees that beautifully reflect the region’s high‑altitude terroir and his dedication to craftsmanship.

The Process:

This coffee is crafted using a traditional natural process — ripe cherries are hand‑sorted and laid out whole to dry in the sun on raised African beds. The extended contact between fruit and bean during drying allows sugars and aromatic compounds to deeply influence the final cup profile. These careful drying methods, combined with meticulous sorting and handling, help develop the intense fruit character and floral complexity this lot is known for.

The Cup:

In the cup, Bekele Yutute Natural delights with rich and layered expression. When hot, delicate violet 🌸 and hibiscus 🌺 aromatics provide a fragrant, floral introduction. As the brew cools, the profile unfolds into juicy blackberry jam 🍇 and ripe mulberry 🍒 notes, creating a fruit‑rich sweetness that lingers beautifully. The overall experience is vibrant yet refined — a perfect showcase of Ethiopian natural coffee complexity.

Overall:

Shoebox's Ethiopia Bekele Yutute Natural is a standout filter coffee that celebrates the best of Sidama’s terroir and the meticulous craft of a seasoned producer. With its evolving fruit profile, floral aromatics, and deep sweetness, this lot offers an engaging and memorable specialty coffee experience.

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.