Awash (Ethiopia) - Medium-Dark Roast

Notes: Blackberry, cane sugar, vanilla

Altitude: 6250-6900'

Variety: Heirloom, Varietals

Process: natural

About Awash

The area surrounding Ethiopia's Awash River is known for its high density of hominid fossils, with the lower valley designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It was in 1974 in the lower valley that the famous "Lucy" was discovered by Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson and graduate student Tom Gray. This hominid skeleton is estimated to be 3.2 million years old and one of the oldest bipedal human ancestors ever uncovered. Her fossilized bones have characteristics of both humans and apes and provides strong insight into human evolution.

Lucy did indeed get her name from the Beatles' song 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,’ which was played on the camp’s cassette player the night of the discovery. Someone suggested giving her the name ‘Lucy’ and it stuck. Johanson was initially opposed to giving such a significant discovery a “cute little name,” but later conceded that it makes her more relatable and identifiable.

Today Lucy is housed in the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.