THE FARM: Dari Kidame is the name of the town where this coffee was grown and collected by small farmers in the region. The coffee is harvested and sold as whole cherry, then collectively processed at a privately run mill in Western Guji. Elevation at the farms they buy cherry from range from 1850 to 2200 meters above sea level. Each lot they produce is made up of coffee from hundreds of different farmers in the region, most with only a few hundred coffee trees or less.

This coffee is dry processed. Dry processing is the oldest coffee processing method still used, and involves drying the coffee bean and cherry whole. The coffee has to be spread out to a layer depth of only a few centimeters, no more, in order to allow air flow. The coffee is turned hourly, or even more frequently, in order to facilitate even drying and keep the coffee from molding. It's not difficult, but requires constant attention and, we believe, yields the most authentic flavor of the bean.

OUR ROAST: The fruit flavors found in Dari Kidame are much more well-integrated into the coffee's sweetness than a lot of other dry process coffees. The dry fragrance has sweet notes of caramel and honey, a hint of creamy chocolate, and dried apricot. The wet aroma produces low-intensity berry accents in the steam, with nice, clean dark chocolate bittersweet notes. The cup has intense chocolate roast flavors, like a high % cacao chocolate bar, and a blueberry note that marks the aroma.

This coffee is part of the 'Farm Gate' program from our friends at The Coffee Shrub, which means they have negotiated directly with the farmer, and guarantee prices that are at least 50%, and often more than 100%, over fair trade.

*** All prices are per pound ***