Chicho Gallo

FINCA HARTMANN
VOLCAN, PANAMA

Caramel Apple, Strawberry, Floral

Three years ago, we released a small batch of Chicho Gallo. We set aside an even smaller amount and tucked it into the freezer to bring back out down the road. That day has come. This is a re-release of that same harvest, and if you had it the first time around, this is your chance to revisit it. If you missed it, here’s the story.

Chicho Gallo is an Ethiopian variety with a story that spans two farms, two continents, and over 15 years.

In the late 2000s, Novo co-founder Joseph Brodsky received a set of coffee samples from Asnakech Thomas. Thomas is one of Ethiopia’s first female coffee producers, and a pioneer in growing and processing exceptional coffee from her farm, Amaro Gayo, in the Sidama region. On a trip from Amaro Gayo to Finca Hartmann in Panama, Joseph discovered that one set of those samples had never been milled, which meant the seeds inside were still viable.

The Hartmann family planted them. Fifteen years later, the story came full circle: Novo purchased the harvest of those re-planted Ethiopian varieties, now grown on Panamanian soil.

Genetically, Chicho Gallo is still an Ethiopian heirloom — and it shows, carrying the floral character that origin is known for. But the Panamanian terroir it grew up in adds its own signature: more body, and a rich berry sweetness. 

Freezing green coffee slows aging and preserves cup quality, which is how this lot has held onto its flavor for three years in storage. 

We only have about 100 pounds of this coffee. This year’s roast presents the sweetness of Caramel Apple, berry notes of Strawberry and a lasting Floral aroma. Grab a bag while it lasts.