ETHIOPIA LALESA MANJA

Dancing Tongue

Seeking fine coffee from Ethiopia has become almost effortless through our long-standing partnership with Falcon Coffee. During a recent cupping session we came across an exceptional natural anaerobic from Lalesa Washing Station. Located in Gedeb the station is from a region we have returned to many times. Coffees from here often carry an elegant aroma with rounded fruit character and balanced sweetness. The producer Ephtah works with a team deeply committed to quality and precision. Their approach to natural process brought out bright tropical fruits taste and fruity stone fruits notes.

This expressive specialty coffee reveals a poetic progression across each brewing method, opening on filter as a bright, juicy bouquet of apricot, guava, red peach, mango, and honeycrisp apple with pristine clarity. Extracted as espresso, the structure intensifies into a syrupy cup driven by deep winey notes and concentrated stone fruit sweetness. Paired with milk, the vibrant acidity transforms into a plush, dessert-like experience where pillow-soft sponge cake and toasted walnut harmonise with lingering red peach.

The Producer

Established in July 2023 by an Ethiopian woman led coffee exporter, Lalesa Washing Station was founded on a belief that coffee can be a meaningful force for change. After acquiring the land, a warehouse and drying beds were completed in September 2023. Since then, Lalesa has continued to grow with a focus on quality, sustainability and creating better opportunities for women farmers.

Some of the women contributing to this lot are part of the Ama Commitment Scheme, an initiative supporting meaningful change for women in rural Ethiopia. By working more closely with farmers, the programme helps women receive better prices for their coffee while creating a stronger connection between the quality of their work and its value.

At Lalesa, this commitment extends beyond coffee. The Ama Commitment Scheme has supported the establishment of a day care centre for workers’ children, giving them a safe place to learn and grow during harvest. It also allows mothers to focus on their work and contribute more income to their families. For Lalesa, improving coffee quality goes hand in hand with creating better conditions for the people behind it.

• Cupping Score 87.75pts

  Fragrance
  complex, concord grape, currant, strawberry jam
  
  Aroma
  candy, flowery, lime, raspberry, grape, cengkih
  
  Flavour
  tea like, peach, apricot, red berries
  
  Aftertaste
  sweet, clean, transparent
  
  Acid
  medium | citrus acidity, balance, smooth, apricot
  
  Body
  medium | clean, balance
  
  Balance
  complex, progressive, strucutred
  
  Overall
  complex taste profile range from jammy berries to aromatic herbal spices

• Roasting Schedule

  Roasting on every day from Monday to Thursday
  Cut-off order 3:00 p.m. a day before processing begins.

  Retail and Wholesale Delivery
  Retail order on the next working day

  Delivery will be made on the next processing working day once your order is roasted or ready.