Our first year working with Manuel Dota marks a continuation of our very small but compelling project in southern Ecuador. As always, the selection is very, very small, but we hope the size of these lots will grow with time. In the cup we find a classic Sidra profile of dragon fruit, eucalyptus, and stone fruit.
Sidra
Saraguro
1,950 masl
June 2026
Hand-picked at peak ripeness. Floated to further remove defects. De-pulped. Dry-fermented for 24 hours. Washed. Dried on raised beds for 15 days.
ABOUT MANUEL DOTA
This is our first year working with Manuel Dota, and it is encouraging to see this small project begin to take shape. Sourcing coffee in Ecuador remains remarkably challenging. Fewer farmers are choosing to grow coffee, and prices continue to rise year after year. Despite these obstacles, coffees from this region remain some of our absolute favorites.
ABOUT SIDRA
While we don't know exactly which variety it is, we do know for certain the variety colloquially called Sidra in Ecuador is an Ethiopian Landrace variety. Ethiopia is widely acknowledged as the geographic origin of coffee. DNA testing has confirmed over 60 distinct varieties growing in Ethiopia, making it home to the most coffee biodiversity in the world. How these Ethiopian varieties have made their way to various parts of the world varies wildly, and is the focus of much research and debate. Given climate change and the increasing difficulty to grow coffee, there is also a lot of research being done to develop new varieties and hybrids, usually starting with Ethiopian Landrace germ-lines.
Pricing Details
FARM GATE (USD; GREEN)
$18.71/KG
FOB
$20.91/KG
DDP
$32.50/KG
The cost of getting a coffee from cherry to beverage varies enormously depending on its place of origin and the location of its consumption. The inclusion of price transparency is a starting point to inform broader conversation around the true costs of production and the sustainability of specialty coffee as a whole.