ALMOST DARK ROAST

10oz. whole bean coffee

Washed Process

This is a wonderful example of a washed processed Ethiopian coffee. It comes from 232 smallholder farmers who deliver ripe coffee cherries to the Hirut (Dumerso) processing station in the heart of Yirgacheffe—specifically in the Yirga Chefe woreda, the micro-region that gives the coffee its name. Grown above 6200 feet, this is some seriously high altitude coffee, composed of Ethiopian landraces/heirlooms strains, and sun-dried on raised beds.

The Yirgacheffe coffee environment is fiercely competitive: smallholder coffee farms and multiple processors vying for quality. The station was built in 1998, acquired by Hirut Berhanu in 2010, completely remodeled, and reopened for the 2013 harvest. Today it employs 400+ seasonal workers (95% women) under the guidance of manager/QC Abenet Alemu son, who cares as much about coffee quality as about connecting with the community. The station has obtained Organic and Rainforest Alliance certifications at the plant level.

Flavor
An Ethiopia coffee on the "darker" side?!? Yep. This one seemed to benefit from a longer, slower roast to bring out some rich chocolate flavors with hints of mandarin orange and warm spice flavors.