Ethiopia - Gedeb - Washed

Roast Profile:- Light 

Region | Yirgacheffe

Variety | JARC varieties, Local Landraces

Process | Washed

Altitude | 1000 - 1750 MASL

Most farmers in the region farm on fewer than 5 hectares, many counting their coffee farms in terms of trees rather than area, however cultivation methods remain traditional. Coffee is grown as part of an integrated 'coffee garden', and intercropped with other food crops. In addition to remaining traditionally intercropped, most farms are also organic-by-default. Farmers in Yirgacheffe typically use very few -if any- fertilizers or pesticides.

Due to the size of most plots, coffee is typically handpicked by landowners and their family. All coffee is selectively hand-harvested before being delivered to a collection centre or directly to the washing station. At the washing station, the coffee is sorted to remove damaged or underripe cherries and is then delivered to the pulpers to be pulped. It will then be fermented for around 24 hours, depending on the weather conditions.

Once fermentation is complete, the parchment is thoroughly washed and then graded in washing channels, separating into two grades based on density. Once graded, the coffee is sometimes soaked under clean spring water in tanks for 12-24 hours to remove all traces of fermented mucilage.

After washing, parchment is delivered to raised beds to dry under shade for 10-14 days until moisture content reaches 12%. During this time, the parchment is regularly turned and hand-sorted several times to remove any damaged or discoloured beans. Parchment is covered with plastic during the hottest hours of the day to protect the parchment from drying too quickly and overnight to prevent condensation from seeping into the drying parchment. This level of love results in a truly exquisite cup profile.