Keramo is a washed coffee from Bensa, Sidama, Ethiopia, sourced from the Keramo washing station managed by Daye Bensa. Grown at elevations of 2,300+ meters above sea level in the Bombe Mountains, the coffee is produced from local landrace varieties. The high altitude results in small, dense beans with complex flavors including white peach, guava, orange blossom, and jasmine notes. The coffee is sourced from approximately 1,500 surrounding farmers.
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.
