Pet Nat from the Dutch roastery Sprout Coffee Roasters is exactly the kind of coffee that doesn’t care much for smoothness. In the cup, it evokes natural wine, with bold notes of red berry jam and a subtle herbal hint of pepper on the finish. The result is a juicy, sweet, and slightly funky profile that plays with wine-like fermentation while still maintaining plenty of clarity and freshness. Sprout also recommends letting the coffee rest for about three weeks before opening it so that its character can fully develop.
The coffee comes from the Mitandi and Kibaati regions in the Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda, where it grows at an elevation of 1,700 to 1,900 meters above sea level. Behind this lot is the Tuganzangane Coffee Farmers group, the smallest farming collective within the Empaako cooperative. It consists of only seven farmers led by Mwesige David. The smaller group is designed to facilitate closer cooperation and greater mutual trust. Thanks to a new financing system, the farmers no longer have to sell their harvest in advance at low prices and can allow the cherries to ripen on the tree until they are fully ripe.
This Pet Nat is made from the SL28 variety and processed using the anaerobic natural method. During fermentation, the coffee cherries remain in an oxygen-free environment and are subsequently dried whole, which helps highlight their sweetness, fruitiness, and characteristic fermented notes. It is precisely this combination that creates a flavor reminiscent of natural wine and red fruits. Sprout offers Pet Nat as a filter roast, focused on clarity, character, and a more pronounced coffee profile. So if you’re looking for a Ugandan coffee that isn’t afraid to be a little funky, this one definitely won’t hold back.
- Elevation: 1, 700–1,900 m above sea level
- Farmers: Mwesig David + others