Uraga is tucked into Ethiopia's Guji zone, high up in the Oromia region south of the more famous Yirgacheffe. For years it was lumped in with its northern neighbour, but the microclimate here is distinct enough that Guji (and Uraga specifically) has earned its own reputation, and it's become one of the most exciting corners of Ethiopian coffee over the last few harvests.
The washing stations sit between 1,950 and 2,300 metres, which is properly high, and the cool nights and slow cherry ripening are a big part of why the coffee tastes the way it does. Farming here is small scale and traditional, with families intercropping their coffee alongside false banana, maize and shade trees. Most farms are organic by default, since barely anyone in the area uses fertilisers or pesticides. The trees themselves are heirloom, the catch-all name for the dozens of indigenous Ethiopian Arabica varieties that grow semi-wild across the region, and that genetic patchwork is a big reason Ethiopian coffee is as complex as it is.
The Supernatural process is where things get really interesting. It takes classic natural processing and dials the fruit character right up. Ripe cherries are hand picked, floated to remove any that aren't up to standard, then stacked in thick piles to raise the temperature and drive fermentation deeper into the fruit. They're turned every few hours during this stage to keep things even, and shade dried to give the processing team more control over the drying speed. After several days of this the cherries are spread thinner and finished on raised beds for another 15 to 25 days. It's less about clarity and refinement, more about bold, sweet, expressive coffee that grabs you by the collar.
What lands in the glass is proper Ethiopian firepower: heaps of strawberry and dark cherry up front, ripe stone fruit through the middle, a chocolatey body and that slightly wine-like syrupy sweetness Uraga Supernaturals are known for. Brew it patiently, drink it black, take your time. This one's a treat.
Region : Guji
Varietal : Heirloom Varietals
Producer : Various Smallholders
Process : Supernatural
Flavour Notes : Strawberry, Plum, Golden Syrup
Roast Level : Single Origin Espresso Profile
