Hi there —
I know, I know — it’s really hard to follow the #1 coffee in Brazil. But we’re keeping the winning streak alive with something just as dazzling: the 1st Place winner of Ethiopia’s 2025 Taste of Harvest competition, roasted by our friends at Little City in Austin. Hambela Buleye is one of the sweetest, cleanest natural Ethiopians I’ve tasted all year, with bright notes of raspberry, floral hibiscus, and cherry cola.
Tastes Like: Raspberry, Hibiscus Tea, Cherry Cola
Why I’m Obsessed: Yum! It was love at first sip when I tried Little City’s newest single origin, Ethiopia Hambela Buleye, a stunning natural Guji. I love raspberry notes in a coffee, and this one delivers. The fragrance is delicate but fruit-forward, and the flavors feel like a swirl of sweet and creamy. The raspberry note sparkles with bright, elegant clarity, and the body is so luscious and creamy that it tastes like raspberries and cream. The hibiscus florals stay balanced and uplifting without ever taking over, and the clean finish has a delicious cola-syrup sweetness. It reminds me of a nice glass of rosé on a sunny afternoon. Another refill? Don't mind if I do!
With such a sweet, clean profile, I’m not surprised this coffee earned 1st place at the 2025 Taste of Harvest Ethiopia, an annual competition run by the African Fine Coffee Association to celebrate the best of African specialty coffee. This meticulous lot was produced by Robel Kidane and his family-run company, Lulo Coffee. They are longtime Little City partners and pioneers in traceable, single-farm Ethiopian microlots. That kind of traceability is incredibly rare in Ethiopia, where most coffee grows in tiny backyard garden plots and is blended by region. Through The Lulo Promise, up to 88 percent of the final value returns directly to the farmers, which is an inspiring model of transparency and equity. If last week’s Brazil Sitio Santa Luzia was all dulce de leche and tropical sunshine, this is its radiant counterpart — floral, fruity, and effortlessly elegant. An absolute must-try for anyone who loves African coffees or joyful, rosy flavors in your cup.
Bottom Line:You’ll love Ethiopia Hambela Buleye if you love raspberry scones, sweet rose wine, or sugary, fruit-forward naturals.
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