Ethiopia Guji Gelena Geisha Natural G1

From seed to cup, many bridges of communication are built throughout the various stages of coffee processing.

Just as ODD EVEN establishes a channel for information between consumers and the producing regions, each stage has its own particular expertise. The Gelena Estate is one that ensures quality control right from the cultivation stage.

The estate begins by using greenhouse technology to grow the coffee, employing smart controls to ensure the uniform growth of the seedlings. Before the coffee saplings are planted, the soil is enriched with fertilizer for 2-3 months to build up a nutrient base. The coffee seedlings are only planted after the soil is properly nourished.

During cultivation, canopy trees are used to provide shade for the coffee plants, which helps to mitigate the decay of flowers and fruit caused by high temperatures and heat stress. The deep-rooted shade trees also retrieve nutrients from deeper soil layers. Their fallen leaves provide natural organic matter that is released into the coffee plantation, and the soil is continuously tested to ensure proper nutrient levels.

Depending on the weather conditions, the cherries are turned and dried for 14 to 20 days to prevent uneven fermentation. For the second drying stage, they are placed on African raised beds for 2 to 3 weeks for ventilated drying and sorting.
The coffee cherries are fermented using a natural sun-drying process to achieve the highest natural quality. This makes its floral aroma more akin to the fragrance of purple petals. The taste is a fusion of strawberry and grape, like fresh juice—clean and complex. As it cools, the sweetness becomes even more delicate and elegant.