Along treacherous, barely-paved roads that pass the bustling town of Daye in the Bensa district of Sidama in Ethiopia is the village of Keramo, which has become famed for its herbal-forward coffee profile, which we often relate to a Gin & Tonic cocktail.

Our partner Catalyst Trade first began working here in the 2015-16 harvest, when that coffee was still lumped into Sidama(o) coffee. The next year, they decided to break Keramo into its own coffee... and WOW was it good! In fact, they were the first to bring Keramo coffee by that name to the world at large.

The profile is one of the most unique we've come across, as it’s so botanical, but it also has extremely beautiful floral qualities and is intensely concentrated. Our Hayissa Olocho carries that legendary profile in part because, due to Catalyst's OCD Quality Control processes, it is entirely undiluted, unlike most coffees that reach roasteries from this area (Flavor Matching against type samples is the norm for most exporters who sell Keramo coffee).

Hayissa Olocho site has 30 drying tables and the management team also purchases cherries from high-quality focused nearby producers, resulting this year in 148 bags total production. Catalyst Trade bought every bag, breaking them into lots both washed and natural.

Roast Profile: Light Roast

Producer: Hayissa Olocho

Region: Keramo, Bura, Bensa, Sidama, Ethiopia

Variety: Variety 74110 and 74158

Elevation: 1900 - 2300 masl

Process: Natural

Tasting Notes: Passion Fruit Candy, Honeysuckle, Elderflower Tonic, Gin Botanicals, Grape Soda