IN THE CUP
Recommended by the one and only Fran—one of the early Vacation Coffee team members who is now a key part of the Cafe Imports team—this Ethiopian Gara Agena is an absolute standout. As a filter, it shines with sweet citrus notes of orange and yuzu. As an espresso, it's bright, sparkling, and incredibly refreshing, with a lively lemonade-like character that jumps out of the cup.
STORY BEHIND THE CUP
Gara Agena is a Special Prep Washed coffee representing some of the highest-quality coffee produced in Ethiopia. Cherries are sourced from a limited number of smallholder farmers, with around 90% picked at peak ripeness, alongside only a small percentage of semi-ripe and overripe fruit. These carefully selected day lots are processed and stored separately from other harvests, resulting in a rare coffee produced in very limited quantities each season.
Freshly harvested cherries are depulped on the day of picking before undergoing 8–12 hours of open-air fermentation. The coffee is then thoroughly washed to remove the remaining mucilage and dried on raised beds for 5–15 days, depending on the weather, preserving the coffee's exceptional clarity, sweetness, and vibrant citrus character.
BREW GUIDE
Dose: 15g coffee | 230g Water at 93°C
Step 1 (0 minute)
Start your timer before pre-wetting your ground coffee. Pre-wet (Bloom) with 25g of hot water and wait for 45 seconds.
Step 2 (45 seconds)
Gently pour 100g of hot water in a circular motion. Let the coffee steep for 60 seconds.
Step 3 (1 minute 45 seconds)
Pour to 225g at 1 minute 45 seconds, then swirl once the pour is done. Enjoy your brew!
