History
When Negusse Debela's company SNAP was looking for an area to produce great coffee, the area of Uraga in southern Ethiopia was without question going to be a focus. The high, consistent elevations of Uraga, usually between 2,000 and 2,300 m.a.s.l., mean an almost unparalleled potential for quality in the country. When Negusse was given the opportunity to invest and manage a beautiful washing station located in the Raro Boda kebele (community) at the peaks of Uraga - at around 2,300 meters - it was dream come true.
About SNAP Specialty Coffees
Negusse Debela has not been in the coffee industry for his whole career. He is known in Ethiopia as a computer guy, running a successful computer parts import company. While coffee does not seem like a natural leap, he was inspired during trip to Minnesota where he tasted a pour-over at a café that gave him an epiphany.
At that moment, Negusse realized the potential of coffee in his home country, and upon returning, he got right to work. He began by touring coffee processing sites throughout southern Ethiopia to understand the farming and processing better. From that initial tour, he was determined to set his company SNAP on a course to be one of the highest quality exporters in Ethiopia.
He has since bought land for SNAP to process its own coffee, and SNAP has also started managing processing sites in Nensebo, Yirgacheffe, and Guji. In early 2019, SNAP finished the final touches on their own export dry mill, giving them full control of their product and quality.
Flavor Notes
Blueberry, Raspberry, Milk Chocolate
Processing Info
Natural
The Raro Boda site produces both washed and natural coffees. This natural processed lot goes through extensive sorting after the coffee cherries are brought in by farmers. The coffee is spread on raised beds in a single layer to keep the drying consistent and not create wild or funky notes. After the coffee dries on the raised beds in single layers for approximately 10 days, it is then put on tarps in thicker layers and dried mostly in shade to better homogenize the moisture level. Total drying times on the raised beds and the tarp range from 15-20 days depending on weather.
Regional Info
Uraga, Guji
Coffees from Guji, in southern Ethiopia used to be classified and sold as Sidamo. However, over the last decade, the region of Guji has been recognized more and more as a separate producing area. In addition, Guji, and in particular the woreda (district) of Uraga, has become one of the most prized areas for coffee quality in the country. The high elevations in Uraga coupled with the predominant usage of the Jimma Agricultural Research Center varieties 74110 and 74112, make the coffees in Uraga to be very dense with sweet, vibrant flavors.