Gombe

Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, Dried mango, Assam

Process: Dry ferment

Varietal: Variedad Colombia

Altitude: 1400-1800 MASL

Origin: Uganda

About the farm:

This experimental washed lot comes from smallholder farmers growing coffee on the mountain above The Coffee Gardens washing station. The farmers harvest and deliver their cherries directly to the station themselves, providing an additional source of income while maintaining a close connection between producer and processor.

First produced during the 2023 harvest, this lot explores a distinctive two-stage fermentation process. After harvesting, the whole cherries undergo a 100-hour dry fermentation, with the cherries kept in a tank and covered with a tarpaulin before being pulped. Following pulping, the coffee is submerged in tanks for a further 40-hour fermentation before being washed and laid out to dry. This extended fermentation process is designed to develop greater depth and complexity while retaining the clean, structured character associated with washed coffees.

The Coffee Gardens was established in 2017 with a focus on producing high-quality specialty coffee while creating a transparent and direct relationship between farmers and coffee buyers. The project works closely with its partner farmers to improve incomes and livelihoods, provide rural employment and training, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Farmers are also supported through post-season bonuses, tree distribution and year-round training programmes.

In 2022, The Coffee Gardens rebuilt its washing station to increase processing capacity and allow the project to continue experimenting with different processing methods. This lot is a great example of that approach, combining carefully managed fermentation with the quality and traceability of coffee produced by their partner farmers.

One of our favourite coffees so far this year, loads going on and almost Kenyan like in character.