Ethiopia Alo Chilaka (NOVA) Mars Project Anaerobic Natural (Filter) | Microlot Edition | Coffee Bean | Light Roast

Origin

This coffee is produced at Chilaka Village, located in Bensa, Sidama, Ethiopia, at elevations between 2,100 and 2,400 meters above sea level.

At these higher elevations, cooler temperatures and slower cherry maturation allow for deeper sugar development within the fruit. When combined with extended fermentation, this results in a cup that is more intense, fruit-driven, and aromatically expressive compared to traditional washed profiles.

The outcome is a coffee that leans bold, saturated, and highly aromatic — a distinct expression of what Sidama can offer under experimental processing.

Mars Project

This lot is part of the Mars Project, a collaboration between EightyPlus Coffee and ALO Coffee — a series focused on coffees that feel “out of this world.”

Within the Mars lineup, Nova represents the most fermentation-driven expression. If other lots in the series are about precision and clarity, Nova is about impact and intensity.

Among the Chilaka releases, this stands as the most dramatic cup — pushing the boundaries of processing while still retaining structure from its high-altitude origin.

Process

Anaerobic Natural — 72 Hour Fermentation

Whole coffee cherries are sealed in an oxygen-limited environment and fermented for 72 hours, allowing pressure and microbial activity to transform the sugars within the fruit.

After fermentation, the cherries are dried slowly on raised beds.

This extended anaerobic process amplifies fruit depth, enhances florality, and introduces warm spice characteristics — resulting in a cup that is fuller, richer, and more layered compared to washed coffees.

Where a washed process highlights clarity and precision, this anaerobic natural emphasizes intensity, body, and aromatic complexity.

In This Cup

This coffee opens with deep, ripe plum, setting a rich and fruit-forward tone from the first sip.

As the cup develops, raspberry acidity lifts through the profile, adding brightness and structure to the heavier fruit base.

A distinct winey character carries through the finish — reminiscent of fermented red fruit — giving the cup a lingering, slightly boozy depth.

Compared to the Hybrid Washed Chilaka, which is clean and elegant, Nova is fuller, more expressive, and driven by fermentation — a cup that leans into richness, intensity, and a more adventurous profile.

Tasting Notes

Plum · Raspberry · Winey

Details

Producer: Tamiru Tadesse
Series: Mars Project — Experimental Lot (NOVA)
Station: Chilaka Village, Bensa — Sidama, Ethiopia
Variety: Ethiopian Heirloom 74158 (JARC Selection)
Altitude: 2,100 – 2,400 masl
Process: 72hr Anaerobic Natural
Grade: Grade 1
Roast Level: Light Roast
Tasting Notes: Plum · Raspberry · Winey