Blind Assessment: Gently sweet-tart, complexly layered. Dried blackberry, honeysuckle, hazelnut butter, cocoa nib, a hint of wine barrel in aroma and cup. Sweetly tart structure with winey acidity; full, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. Finish consolidates to notes of hazelnut butter and cocoa nib with undertones of blackberry.

Notes: Southern Ethiopia coffees like this one are largely produced from distinctive indigenous Ethiopian landrace varieties of Arabica long grown in the region. This is a dry-processed or “natural” version, meaning the beans were dried inside the fruit rather than after the fruit has been removed, as is the case with washed coffees. Merge is a specialty coffee roaster in Harrisonburg, Virginia dedicated to ethical sourcing of high-quality coffees. Visit www.mergecoffeeco.com for more information.

The Bottom Line: A fruit-forward, natural-processed Guji cup with a hint of sweet ferment and deep nut and cocoa undertones.

Click here for more information about coffees from Ethiopia.