Ethiopia: Yirgacheffe G1 Aricha Wubanchi Coffee - Single Origin - 100% Arabica

Country: Ethiopia
Region: Yirgacheffe
Mill: Aricha Wubanchi
Elevation: 2213 MASL
Varietal: Local Heirloom G1 (Grade 1)
Process: Washed
Tasting notes: Apricot, bergamot, lime

One of the most incredible coffees we've ever sourced, this washed-processed Ethiopia delivers a clean, citric and floral taste profile with notes of apricot, bergamot and lime.

This offering consists of beans grown on 1700 local smallholder farms. The farmers grow coffee plants on their small plots of land that are aptly named 'garden coffee' plots. The beans are brought to the Aricha Wubanchi station for washing.

The farmers grow a range of the local indigenous 'heirloom' varietals that grow wild in the country. The collective contribution of high altitude, fertile soil, consistent and plentiful rain and vast knowledge in this region are what give these coffees unique flavour notes and a refined cup.

The Region

Aricha is located in Yirgacheffe district, Gedeo zone, in the ‘Southern Nations, Nationalities & Peoples’ (SNNP) region of Ethiopia. Over a number of years the region has developed a distinguised reputation for fine coffees, producing some of the most sought-after microlots in world.

The Process

The cherries are picked at their optimum ripeness and are delivered to the Aricha Wubanchi wet mill for processing. Initially, they undergo sorting to remove any overripe/ underripe fruits that have slipped through. After pulping, they are fermented for 36-48 hours, depending on the weather. The beans are then washed and separated and graded by density. 

They are then dried on raised beds for 10-12 days and are periodically turned to ensure even drying. Once the moisture content has dropped within the ideal limits, the coffee is then transported to the Addis Ababa station for dry-milling, grading and bagging.