Tasters at last year's Ethiopian Ecafe auctions were amazed by some very clean dry processed coffees from Sidamo and Yrgacheffe, and, as our reviews of a few of them show, we were amazed too. Apparently, word got round to Mohammed Ogsadey, the venerable importer of Harars.

At least, this is as clean a Harar as I've ever cupped. The aroma is mostly pit fruit, with a discrete helpings of blueberries and chocolate. There is a little aldehyde and meatbroth from ferment, but a green tea aroma, of all things, overshadows it. The taste is also clean and quite sweet, mostly berries. with slight leather notes added to the aromas. The finish is short and clean.

The sweetness makes this an excellent SO espresso, and will allow for darker roasts.

I have a feeling people will be raving about this Harar; it is an excellent and powerful coffee. But I actually miss the more up front fermented notes of less cleanly prepped Harars, which can have the aspect of well aged wine. On the other hand, if you've always wanted a cleaner, more civilized Harar, this is the year for you.

.

Jim's Score
Dry Fragrance: 4.25
Wet Aroma: 4.0
Flavor: 8.5
Finish: 7.5
Acidity: 7.5
Body: 8.0
______________________
TOTAL (subtotal + 50): 89.75

• Lighter Roasts: Mostly pit fruit, some blueberry and chocolate
• Darker Roasts: More blueberry at medium roast, chocolate and some leather at dark roasts
• As Espresso: Excellent aromatic fruit and chocolate SO at medium roasts