Uganda Mount Elgon Washed

We couldn’t be happier to have fresh crop washed East African coffees in stock again, and this Ugandan number is quintessential. It's all citrus and florals with a juicy mouthfeel and bright notes of orange, lemon, and black tea ... perfect for sipping on the first warm spring day.

This coffee was grown by the Bagisu farmers, who live in the mountainous region across the slopes of Mount Elgon in Uganda. It was then processed by The Coffee Yard, a women-lead group that seeks to ensure quality and precision to enhance market accessibility and income opportunities for smallholder farmers. We love supporting TCY and their clear vision for community empowerment.

To create this lot, farmers picked the red cherries and pulped them locally. The wet parchment was then taken over by TCY buyers and brought to the yard, which offers reliably clean water, controlled fermentation, careful sorting, and slow, attentive drying focussed on preventing mould and other defects.

Slow drying was once the smart, established way of processing coffee, deeply rooted in local traditions. But as the coffee chain began to favour agents purchasing unfinished coffee, farmers were pushed to speed up the process, which reduced overall quality. TCY steps in to restore this attention to detail. With the yard’s capacity, skilled labour, and consistent oversight, the quality of the coffee is elevated, and the beans are dried slowly — just as tradition once guided.

Elevation: 2000 Metres Above Sea Level

Varietal: SL14, SL28, Nyasaland

Cup Score: 86

Price paid per kilo: £8.71

Process: Washed, dried on raised African beds