From Red Fox President & co-founder Aleco Chigounis:
Banko Gotiti is a forested area of semi-mythical status located in one of the remotest reaches of Gedeb within the fabled Kochore woreda of the Gedeo Zone. This is the Yirgacheffe many of us dreamed of visiting in our earliest industry years. Gotiti is mythical in the sense of how idyllic and idealized this specific forest has been in the minds of coffee buyers across the globe for decades.
Gotiti is nestled right up against the border with Guji, specifically Hambella Wamena. Hambella is home to subregions like Buku, Qirtira Goyo, and others that also hold a similar connotation for buyers.
In many ways these coffees hold the level of quality that we’re eternally searching for. In some of our minds this is quite literally the home of the most dynamic, unique flavor profiles in the entire coffee world.
A Rare Gift, Now Repeatable
Coffees from Gedeb have come and gone over the past 12 years at Red Fox. We’ve had success in certain seasons with Worka, Chelchele, and Chelelektu. Until recently, we hadn’t been able to replicate those coffees on a consistent basis. Now, not only have we found that consistency, we’re actually seeing improvement year over year from the Eva washing station in Gotiti.
Eva washing stations are owned by our friend Biniam and managed by another energetic, hard working friend, Abenezer. These are folks that we now have 5 seasons working with. The trust and understanding is there. Bini and Abenezer’s ability to deliver has grown to A+ standards. Eva has only three washing stations at the moment, allowing them to hone quality and do things the right way.
Cherry is floated as it arrives at the washing station each afternoon. Fruit is depulped on standard McKinnon machines which are capable of sorting cherries by ripeness to a basic degree. Fermentation can last up to 48 hours as nighttime temperatures drop precipitously with the sun. Parchment coffee is then washed rigorously in long channels before being taken to dry on raised beds for 10-12 days. The parchment coffee is regularly covered to protect from the day’s most intense sunlight, between 11am and 2pm.
In the Cup
We believe our role when offering coffee is to score strictly, in a way that potentially errs on the side of being conservative. We simply can’t afford to oversell and underdeliver. As much as it does pain me on occasion, we rarely score coffees 90+ at Red Fox.
Our 2026 Gotiti is easily 90+. It’s better than 90. It’s what we’ve been searching for.
As far as the cup itself goes think, jasmine perfuming the night air. Think the finest afternoon bergamot tea when it comes to the finish. Find middle layers laden with ripe, spring Rainier cherry, and white grape juice, ranging to forest fruits like lingonberry and fresh currants. Gotiti has it all, and in the most complex way.
Interested in sourcing coffee with us? Reach out at info@redfoxcoffeemerchants.com. To learn more about our work, check out our journal and follow us on Instagram @redfoxcoffeemerchants.