Sometimes coffee doesn’t need to impress you with its intensity to capture your attention. The Ethiopian Juicebox from the Belgian roaster Wide Awake Coffee features juicy peach, delicate white flowers, and elegant notes of oolong tea. A pleasant fruity sweetness blends with fresh acidity, while the floral aroma and subtle tea-like character lend the entire profile a delicate quality and a pleasantly long finish. The result is a clean, fresh, and harmonious coffee that offers a beautifully balanced combination of flavors rather than bold, intense ones.
Behind this coffee is Ethiopian farmer Bekele Kachara, who has been growing coffee for more than 20 years. Together with his wife, Abinet Mekonnen, he farms 10 hectares of land in the Bensa area of the Sidama region. This lot comes from their Murago plot, located at an elevation of 2,350 meters above sea level. It is here that their son Belay oversees the processing, and he enjoys experimenting with various methods. Bekele’s work has also earned international recognition. One of his coffees placed 14th in the Cup of Excellence competition with a score of 89 points. He has been collaborating with the Wide Awake roastery since they met in person in Ethiopia.
Juicebox is made from the JARC 74158 variety, bred in Ethiopia with an emphasis on disease resistance and suitability for local growing conditions. The coffee underwent honey processing. After ripe cherries are hand-picked, the skin and part of the pulp are removed, while a sweet, sticky layer called mucilage remains on the beans. This is followed by fermentation and slow drying on raised African beds, where the beans dry along with this layer. The honey method contributes to greater sweetness and a fuller body without the coffee losing its clarity and delicate character.
- Producer: Bekele Kachara
- Farm: Murago
- Elevation: 2,350 m above sea level