Introduction:Dive deep into the unique charm of an Ethiopian sundried coffee—from its origin story, fruity flavor profile to V60 pour over parameters. This article will guide you through the ins and outs of this highly acclaimed Ethiopian sundried bean. Not only does it offer a detailed flavor description, but also practical brewing tips to help you fully bring out its passion fruit, strawberry, mango, and other tropical fruit notes, along with a rich body and lingering finish.

This coffee is a sundried bean from Ethiopia’s Guji Hambela region. Originally named Hambela, it was later introduced to the Chinese market by a domestic green bean importer and renamed “Hua Kui.” Rather than being known for intense floral notes, this coffee is celebrated for its rich, multi-layered fruit aromas—including passion fruit, strawberry, mango, jackfruit, and citrus—delivering a vibrant and refreshing taste experience.

The story of this coffee dates back eight years, when Ethiopia’s DW Coffee Company submitted a sundried lot from the Buku Abel washing station in Hambela to the TOH (Ethiopia National Taste of Harvest competition). With its intense berry aroma and creamy-smooth mouthfeel, it won the sundried category championship that year. The champion beans were then brought to the Chinese market by a Beijing-based green bean trader and named “Hua Kui,” which means “the queen of all flowers, outshining all others.”

Before long, these champion beans were chosen by a Chinese World Brewers Cup competitor as their competition coffee. It went on to defeat several Geisha coffees and claimed second place. This string of accolades quickly elevated this sundried bean from Buku Abel to fame. Coupled with its affordable price, it has gradually become an industry-recognized high-quality choice.

As a promoter of fruit-forward coffee profiles, [Front Street Coffee] has specially included this Hua Kui in its Ethiopian series and roasted it at a medium-light level to enhance its sweetness and acidity. With moderate roasting, this coffee exhibits bright acidity and bold fruity tones, making it ideal for coffee lovers who enjoy fruitiness and a refreshing cup.

In terms of dry aroma, Hua Kui offers notes of nuts, honey, and berries, along with a subtle hint of fermentation. Once brewed, you’ll immediately taste vibrant passion fruit, strawberry, and a creamy sweet-tart profile. The body is full, and the aftertaste carries a deep cocoa richness, resulting in a well-balanced cup with layered and harmonious flavors.

If you want to experience the charm of this coffee at home using a V60 dripper, here are professional-grade brewing recommendations. The V60’s 60-degree conical design channels water flow toward the center of the coffee bed, extending contact time between water and grounds. Its large bottom hole also gives you greater control over extraction pace and flavor expression.

To fully highlight Hua Kui’s juicy character and intense fruitiness, it is recommended to usea medium-fine grind size(approximately 80% extraction rate through a Chinese No. 20 sieve), with water temperature set at91°C. Usea three-stage slow circular pouring methodwith a steady fine stream to enhance sweetness and clarity of flavors.

The specific brewing parameters are as follows: use15 grams of coffee grounds, with a1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, for a total brew water volume of225 grams. Start witha 30-second bloom using 30 grams of water, then pour from the center outward in circles and back to the center at a rate of4 grams per seconduntil you reach125 grams, then pause pouring. After allowing the coffee bed to settle slightly, repeat the same pouring technique up to225 grams, then remove the dripper to complete extraction. Keep the total brew time around2 minutes and 10 secondsfor optimal flavor balance.

Whether you’re a beginner pour over enthusiast or a seasoned coffee explorer looking for new flavor challenges, this coffee promises a delightful taste experience. Master the right brewing techniques, and you can easily recreate the unique charm of this well-loved Ethiopian sundried coffee at home.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.