TASTING NOTES | CRANBERRY. GRAPEFRUIT. LIQUORICE. CARAMEL  Country of origin: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Finca: Alpha New Location: Kishinji, South Kivu Altitude: 1630masl Producers: Alpha New Washing Station Varieties: Bourbon Processing: Fully Washed Harvest & Shipping: March-August 2022 SCA Quality Score: 85 Suggested brew method: Espresso   Alpha New was founded in 2015 to roast coffee for the domestic market. In 2017, after 2 years operating as a successful coffee roaster, they began seeking new ways to reduce the cost of production while increasing market access for small producers and promoting a more equitable distribution of income. With help from Technoserve and several state and local governments, Alpha New acquired land and constructed a wet mill. The Alpha New Washing Station began processing cherry in the 2019/2020 season.  Smallholder farmers handpick cherry and deliver it the washing station. Cherry is pulped in an ecopulper. After a period of wet fermentation, parchment is washed in clean water and laid on drying beds. Parchment is turned frequently to ensure even drying. It takes approximately 14 days far parchment to dry. Coffee once played a huge part in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) economy. Eastern DRC was called “a paradise for coffee.”  Unfortunately, the country’s dark colonial history followed by waves of political turmoil limited prosperity in the coffee sector. Today, coffee’s making a comeback as a number of private and public sector actors invest in the country. We believe DRC is a country to watch as it continues to build the infrastructure and knowledge needed for specialty coffee production.