This Ugandan coffee shows that even a chocolate-forward profile can have a pleasant fruity spark. Namugowa from the Czech roastery Father’s Coffee Roastery blends pronounced notes of cocoa beans and dark chocolate with ripe peach, which lightens the flavor profile and adds a fruitier dimension. The combination of these notes creates an interesting contrast between the deeper cocoa aspect and the juicier fruity element. Father’s roasts this coffee specifically for drip brewing and recommends it for various drip brewing methods.
The coffee comes from Uganda, specifically the Mt. Elgon region, where it is produced by The Coffee Gardens project. Founded in 2017, the project aims to produce specialty coffee in an ethical manner and to create a more direct connection between local farmers and the people who drink their coffee. The project is dedicated to improving farmers’ living conditions, creating jobs in rural areas, promoting gender equality, ensuring transparency and traceability in the supply chain, and protecting the local environment. The Father’s team personally visited farmers in Uganda and, together with The Coffee Gardens, co-funded the creation of the QC Lab, which allows growers to assess the quality of their harvest on-site and continue working to improve their practices. The lot consists of three varieties : SL14, SL28, and Nyasaland.
Namugowa underwent a washed processing method with whole-cherry fermentation, known as “cherry fermentation washed.” Freshly harvested coffee cherries are first fermented before the skin and pulp are removed. This step is intended to enhance their sweetness and fruity character. After fermentation, the cherries are hulled, the coffee is then washed, and finally dried on raised beds. According to Father’s, it is precisely this combination of whole-cherry fermentation and subsequent washing that helps preserve the purity and complexity of the resulting coffee. This processing method harnesses the fruitiness right from the first stage of the process while also utilizing a subsequent washing step before the actual drying.
- Varieties: SL14, SL28, and Nyasaland
- Processing: Washed with whole cherry fermentation
- Project: The Coffee Gardens