Bekele Natural from the Danish roaster Coffee Collective is a coffee that smells like summer and tastes like a fruity dream. The first sip reveals the sweetness of ripe strawberries, complemented by the aroma of bergamot and juicy melon. The taste also reveals playful notesof wine gums,giving the coffee a cheerful, almost candy-like character—as if a summer fruit market had been transformed into a cup of coffee. Each sip is different, sometimes fruitier, sometimes sweeter, but always perfectly balanced.
Behind this coffee is Bekele Karchara, a farmer from the Sidama region of Ethiopia, who, together with more than 75 growers from the surrounding area, grows coffee without access to electricity or water. They rely exclusively on traditional methods, tools, and their own experience. Bekele's farm is located at an altitude of between 2,200 and 2,350 meters above sea level, where the cooler climate and thin air slow down the ripening of the cherries. This gives the beans a richer flavor, greater sweetness, and more depth. For Coffee Collective, this is an exceptional collaboration – Bekele's coffee is an example of what can be achieved when respect for nature, patience, and precision work come together.
Processing is a combination of natural and anaerobic methods. The coffee is dried slowly, without haste, often for several weeks, so that the sweetness can fully develop in the beans. Anaerobic fermentation then adds a subtle depth and winey tones that complement the fruity character. The entire process takes place at high altitude, where the cooler climate ensures slower drying and thus a more stable flavor. The result is a coffee with a distinctive fruitiness, a smooth body, and a long, sweet aftertaste—a coffee that tastes as exceptional as its story sounds.