ETHIOPIA LALESA ONNA ANAEROBIC

The Women

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 anaerobic processing brings a deeper boozy character without taking away the delicate fruit expression that makes Ethiopian coffee so distinctive.

Lalesa is full of surprises. Unlike some natural anaerobic coffees that lean heavily into winey or fermented flavours this coffee keeps its fruit character clear. On hand brew it opens with boysenberry and tender melon followed by a bright cherry sweetness. As the cup develops longan and mango juice begin to appear. The second sip brings a distinct raspberry juiciness with a subtle rosemary note through the finish. Brewed as espresso the tropical character becomes more pronounced while milk transforms the cup into something almost dessert-like. Think bingsu with grass jelly followed by the soft flavour of oolong milk tea.

As the coffee cools the strawberry character becomes more defined and the cup continues to shift without losing its balance. This is where Lalesa becomes especially interesting. It carries the depth expected from a natural anaerobic while retaining the elegance and clarity we often look for in Ethiopian coffee. Lalesa is the kind of coffee that speaks for itself. A coffee with enough character to stay in memory and a name worth remembering.

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 88.00pts

  Fragrance
  grape candy, bubblegum, sarsaparilla, vanilla
  
  Aroma
  roselle, orange blossom, purple grape, pomelo, rose, blueberry
  
  Flavour
  green apple, rockmelon, sugarcane, roselle tea, rose, peach, lime sparkling
  
  Aftertaste
  delicate, structured, balance
  
  Acid
  medium high | malid, lactic, phosphoric
  
  Body
  medium | silky, syrupy
  
  Balance
  structured, pointed, harmony
  
  Overall
  
  

• 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.