Gargari Gutiti washing station is a cherry processing facility in Banko, Gedeb, which specialises in experimental processes for Primrose, a specialty coffee company and one of our producer partners in the region.

‘Supernatural’ is a new processing method which augments the traditional natural sun-drying process by increasing opportunity for controlled aerobic fermentation during drying (more details below)

Gargari Gutiti sits at 1,983masl and is notable for its highly strict and uncompromising standards. The small farmers in this region typically cultivate Jarc 74110, 7412 and 74165, sub-varieties of traditional Ethiopian heirloom varieties on small garden plots around their homes.

Process

In traditional Ethiopian specialty natural processing, cherries are spread in a thin layer over a raised bed and dried in indirect or direct sunlight. For this supernatural, cherries - hand harvested and selected via Brix measurement at their optimum ripeness - are weighed and spread evenly in a thick layer on raised drying racks lined with plastic sheet. The sheet is then rolled up (not unlike a burrito) and the cherries are fermented for a pre-determined amount of time. Unlike a strict anaerobic fermentation there is some limited oxygenation. After the fermentation period the coffee is shade dried in a thick layer. The precise recipe is a closely guarded secret and varies for each washing station with adjustments to fermentation time, cherry volume, and thickness of drying layers making up the possible variables.
 
In order to ensure consistency, prevent over-fermentation, and avoid mould formation, it is essential that the conditions are strictly monitored throughout. Temperature, Brix and moisture readings are recorded periodically and small adjustments to airflow and ambient temperature are made accordingly.
 
Once the optimum moisture content has been reached (around 12.5%) the cherries are rested in a cool environment prior to secondary processing (hulling, grading, sorting, handpicking and bagging in Grainpro for export).