Region: Aricha

Process: Honey

Variety: Heirloom

Altitude: 1900-2100 masl

SCA score: 87

Aricha is located at 1900 masl, closer to Yirgacheffe Town in Gedeo. Aricha is well known for its floral and citrus-driven character. This specific station buys cherries from approximately 750 farmers in the area. Their farms are, on average, 2 hectares in size and sit between 1900 and 2100 masl. This washing station is close to the river and smallholder farms, so farmers can only transport their cherries for 40 minutes before reaching the station. The station manager is Cherab na Betesebu.

Harvest for our 2023 coffees started in all the major growing areas of Ethiopia in November. Cherry prices were relatively high early in the harvest compared to previous years. Yields were overall superior, which historically should have meant a reduction in cherry price further into the season. Still, new regulations and increased competition for coffee prevented it from happening.

CHERRY SELECTION

Cherries are collected manually and hand-sorted later. The cultivars are Welisho and Dega.

PULPING AND PRE-GRADING

The cherries are pulped using traditional Agaarde Depulper machines. Skin and fruit pulp are removed before the machine grades the parchment in water as 1st or 2nd quality, determined by density.

PULPING AND PRE-GRADING

Wet fermentation for 36 to 48 hours

WASHING AND GRADING IN CHANNELS

Coffees are washed in channels and graded in water by density. The lower density (lower quality) will float and be removed, leaving only the denser, and therefore, higher quality beans will be separated as higher grade lots.

SOAKED UNDER CLEAN WATER

After fermentation, soaking takes place for 2 hours

DRYING AND HAND-SORTING

After soaking, the coffee is piled up in layers 2cm tall. It has been covered from noon to after 3 pm to protect it from the sun and dried over 12-15 days.

Collection: Coffee Beans