This Ethiopian coffee comes from the Keramo washing station in Bensa, Sidama, managed by exporter Daye Bensa. The beans are sourced from approximately 1,500 farmers living in the Bombe Mountains at elevations of 2,300+ meters. The high altitude results in slow cherry maturation, producing small, dense seeds packed with complex flavors. This washed Local Landraces variety exhibits notes of peach, jasmine, and acacia honey with a juicy character.
Bow Smith, Holden Curran, and Jessi Lee Cord launched Rowan Coffee in October 2020 as a mobile espresso operation in Asheville, North Carolina, growing quickly into a permanent home. Bow brings nearly a decade of barista, roasting, and management experience, and began roasting in house in January 2023 on a 15 kilo Mill City Roasters machine. Rowan centers mainly on washed process coffees, prizing clarity and complexity, with green beans sourced from specialty importers including Semilla, Osito, Red Fox Coffee Merchants, and The Coffee Quest. Everything is roasted to order on Tuesdays and shipped the following day. The approach is deliberate and seasonal, letting each coffee speak to where and how it was grown.
