The limited-edition NAMUGOWA winter blend from the Prague roastery Birdsong Coffee won’t keep you guessing about its flavor notes for long. You’ll clearly detect the fermented cocoa beans in your cup; they have a distinctive and unique character complemented by juicy peach. The flavor also features red fruit, which transitions into chocolate and finishes with a slightly sweet-bitter pomelo aftertaste. Brew this coffee using a filter—such as a V60, Chemex, Aeropress, or French press. It’s perfect for leisurely holiday mornings and quiet moments amid Christmas preparations. You can also wrap it up and place it under the tree, then enjoy your first cup together. The winter packaging was once again created in collaboration with ePiPí.
The beans come from Mt. Elgon in eastern Uganda, where coffee trees grow at an elevation of 1,800 to 2,200 meters above sea level. The Nyasaland, SL14, and SL28 varieties are grown here. The production is managed by The Coffee Gardens, who grow specialty coffee in close and transparent collaboration with local farmers. They prioritize ethical labor practices, sustainability, and eco-friendly methods, and are also dedicated to reforestation on the farms. One of the key figures in the project is Dana, co-founder of Birdsong Coffee. The coffee is named after Job Namugowa, the head of the washing station, who personally oversees the entire process.
The micro-lot undergoes a rigorous processing that takes 140 hours. The cherries first undergo 100 hours of dry fermentation in tanks. The farmers then hull them, and the beans ferment for another 40 hours in cold spring water. The coffee is dried on African drying beds and undergoes careful, multi-stage sorting before export. It is precisely this processing method, known as “cherry ferment,” that gives the cup a fermented cocoa aroma while preserving the clarity of washed coffee.
- Producer: The Coffee Gardens
- Altitude: 1,800–2,200 m above sea level
- Varieties: Nyasaland, SL14, SL28
- Processing: Cherry ferment – washed