New Foothills Uganda Kanungu Natural

The story of our two new Foothills Uganda coffees begins two years ago, when we were set up in the Roaster’s Village at the Specialty Coffee Association Trade Show in Seattle, WA. At those events, you are frequently visited by coffee farmers, typically from Brazil, who are eager to leave you with samples to try their various coffees. We had many such visits from all kinds of folks, but one soft-spoken gentleman stopped by named Gerald Mbabazi. He introduced himself as the director of Gorilla Summit, representing farmers from Kanungu in remote Southwestern Uganda. He left a couple of samples with us and went on his way. 

When I got back from Seattle, I looked at the pile of 20 or so green coffee samples and grabbed a few that caught my eye to roast up and cup. Two of the coffees that stood out from the pack were Gerald’s coffees. I was blown away. The samples were SL-28 varietals, one washed and one natural. The SL-28 caught my attention because it is a Kenyan varietal, but obviously grown in Uganda. I couldn’t tell which I liked more, the washed or the natural. 

I reached out to Gerald and told him how much we enjoyed his coffees and requested a few bags of each to put into our Foothills Series. The plot thickened when Gerald informed me the the coffee he had set aside for us (and others) had been stolen from his warehouse. I was disappointed but promised to try the next crop, hoping it would be just as good. Well, it turns out it was just as fantastic as the last crop and after much back and forth, we’re super happy to finally release both coffees to you. 

What I love these coffees is the opportunity for you to experience the exact same coffee varietal processed two different ways. Everything unique about them is due mainly to their processing method. The natural was dried in the sun on raised beds, and the washed was They are both amazing but it completely different ways. 

The Foothills Uganda Kanungu Washed has a delightful aroma of florals, vanilla, and chocolate. The flavor is like black currant, butterscotch, and brown sugar. For those familiar with our Foothills Series, this would be comparable to our Guatemala La Armonia Hermosa. 

The Foothills Uganda Kanungu natural has an aroma that is warm and sweet with lots of chocolate with a hint of berries. The flavor is like blueberries, honey, and milk chocolate. This would certainly be comparable to our Ethiopia Hambela. 

Here at Vienna, we want to continue to provide you with the coffees you’ve come to expect and love from us, but also want to keep introducing you to new ones because after all, they may soon become your new favorite. 

Philip Hatter Director of Coffee and Training 

Tips on Choosing the Right Coffee

Feel overwhelmed trying to pick out coffee for your home? You’re not alone! With a seemingly endless combination of roast levels, countries, and processes, choosing the right coffee can feel impossible. But don’t fret! Let us help you on our coffee buying adventure.

Roast Levels and Caffeine Content

Roast level is probably the most simple concept to understand when searching for a coffee, but you might have been mislead along the way. A common misconception is that certain roasts have more or less caffeine than others. While is is true on a microscopic level, your body can’t tell the difference. So don’t be afraid to try a different roast due to caffeine content! It’s best to base your coffee decision on your flavor preference.

Washed, Natural, Semi-Washed, and other fancy coffee words

When browsing coffees you might run across words like washed, natural, semi-washed, honey, or other words under the category of “process” or “processing method”. While these words may add to the confusion, it is actually a very helpful indicator of flavor. Lets break down what these words mean:

Washed: The fruit is removed, leaving a sticky mucilage that is removed by soaking in a tank of water for 24-36 hours.  The coffee beans are then washed with water and dried in the sun. These coffees are typically clean and bright (tangy acidity). The majority of coffees you encouter are washed coffees.

Natural: The fruit is left on the bean and dried in the sun, like a raisin.  These coffees are sweet and fruit forward.

Semi-Washed/Honey: The fruit is removed as in the washed process, but then the mucilage covered beans are dried in the sun instead of soaking. These coffees are sweet and tend to have nice floral qualities.

Country of Origin

While country of origin can have some effect on flavor, it is not always a good indicator. When it comes to country of origin, it is best to just try them out and decide for yourself which one you like best!

Tasting Notes

Just like wine, coffee has what are called “Tasting Notes”. A tasting note is a flavor profile perceived in a certain coffee when brewed and is not the same thing as a flavored coffee! Flavored coffee has a flavored added to it whereas a tasting note is the perception of a naturally occurring flavor in the coffee.

Making Your Decision

Have a certain coffee taste you like? Great! Follow the information on our bags to get the perfect coffee for you. Not sure what you want? That’s great too! Buying great coffee is an adventure, so have fun with it and explore!