Ethiopia Guji 1 Natural Uraga

I have always loved morning glories. I think that it stems from a childhood seed packet that I chose all by myself at the nursery (a big deal when you’re small). Luckily they were easy to grow, and I was delighted to watch “my flowers” spread around the garden. This year my brother-in-law gave us some heirloom Grandpa Ott seeds saved from his own flowers, and the kids planted them around the garden in the spring. I am admittedly fond of morning glories, but I don’t know if there is a more beautiful sight than those deep purple heads nodding in the early light.

One year old!
Photo Credit: Stacey Skolak-Mitchell

Last weekend we had the fun of celebrating a first birthday. Archie had all kinds of relatives in town, and we had a big party, with spectacular food cooked by his grandma and great-aunt. All the cousins, from both sides, had a great time playing together, and Archie toddled around and thoroughly enjoyed his party. Little Caroline made three cakes for him, complete with an elephant topper created from fondant. Archie is well-loved.

On Monday we had leftover birthday cake here at the store, and I highly recommend cake and coffee. It was delicious with last week’s Sulawesi Toraja. This week we have a new brew for you, from the birthplace of coffee. This Ethiopian bean is from indigenous heirloom cultivars, maybe the same kind that Kaldi and his goats found (see the legend here, in a January newsletter).

This coffee is grown on small family farms in the Guji zone, and brought to a private washing station owned by Feku Jiberil, in the Uraga district. Feku Jiberil takes the ripe cherries and immediately sorts them and places them on raised beds to dry. This is a natural, or dry-processed, coffee, which means the coffee is dried with the fruit still intact. In the cup, you taste this fruit, and it is a sweet coffee with citrus and stone fruit tones.

You can try a cup on us this week with the code morning glory*. If you haven’t visited the downtown Thursday Night Market, next week is the last week. Come on out and get some fresh produce while enjoying the music and vendors. And of course it’s always a good time for a coffee drink. Enjoy!
–Holly Fike

*Code good for one free 12 ounce cup of Ethiopia Guji 1 Natural Uraga. Code expires on 8.3.17. Limit one free cup per customer please. Valid only at Carolines Coffee Roasters, 128 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA. Code/Offer has no cash value.