This is our first unwashed Yirgacheffe coffee, usually we only have fully washed. This coffee is from the Yirga Cheffe region in southern Ethiopia, grown at an altitude of 1900 mASL. The farmer group consist of about 490 farmers working in an area of about 888 Hectares. Together they have an annual production of about 577 metric tonnes of cherries. With the coffee exchange rules for Ethiopia coffee exports (ECX), all lots (with an exception for Fairtrade co-operatives and Organic coffees) become anonymous once integrated into the Government warehouse. So because this coffee has an organic designation we know it’s from Chelba Mill and it is a dry-processed (unwashed) lot. Dry-processing involves drying the entire coffee cherry in the sun, for between 7-10 days depending on weather conditions. Then the skin, fruity mucilage layer and parchment coat surrounding the green bean is removed in one process.

In Ethiopia, traditional dry-processed coffee is not pre-sorted after picking to separate only ripe red coffee cherry but it is sun-dried in a jumpled fashion. However, we think the result is outstanding, giving a heavily fruited dry fragrance, with apricot scents and vanilla sweetness. The wet aroma is sweet like syrup and honey. In our Union roast style, the cup has notes of fresh hay with licorice. It is highly fruited with sweet lemon citrus notes emerging as the temperature cools.