Blackberry Hug by DAK is an espresso that packs a serious punch of fruity energy. From the very first sip, it delivers juicy notes of blackberries and cranberry juice that instantly awaken the taste buds. The fruity wave then slowly settles into the sweeter notes of ripe pear and cane sugar, which lend the cup a rounded character. The overall impression is creamy, lively, and very playful. It’s a cup that will wake you up, cheer you up, and won’t let you go.
The coffee comes from the village of Shantawene in the Bensa area of Ethiopia’s Sidama region, one of the places where coffee is literally part of the landscape. It is grown high in the hills, among forests and small fields, where small-scale farmers have often been cultivating their plots for generations. Each family here has only small plots, but it is precisely this meticulous, hands-on work that gives the coffee its distinctive character. The high altitude, cooler nights, and fertile soil slow the ripening of the coffee cherries, giving them more time to develop sweetness. Farmers here grow traditional Ethiopian varieties known as Heirloom —genetically diverse coffee trees that produce cups full of fruit, floral notes, and lively acidity.
Natural processing gives this coffee its distinctive fruity depth. After harvest, the whole coffee cherries are spread out on raised African beds, where they slowly dry in the sun for several weeks. Farmers turn them regularly throughout the day and sort them carefully to ensure they dry evenly and retain their quality. During this slow process, the sweet juices from the pulp gradually seep into the bean, creating a character that is full of fruit, juiciness, and a delicate sugary sweetness. The result is a profile that is distinctive, lively, and beautifully layered. The fruitiness is intense, the body creamy, and the finish long, sweet, and slightly wine-like. It is exactly the type of Ethiopian natural coffee that can surprise you and linger in your memory long after the last sip.