Origin, Development, History, and Culture of Ethiopian Washed Sidamo G2 Specialty Coffee Beans

The Sidamo Coffee Region

The Sidamo region, situated at elevations of 1,400-2,200 meters, is a renowned specialty coffee area in southern Ethiopia, bordering Kenya. Washed Sidamo beans display a light green color, are relatively small in size with an oval shape, and feature full, well-formed fruits of consistently high quality. They possess a rich, mellow aroma that leaves an endless aftertaste with a single sip, embodying a wild beauty. Sidamo's coffee flavor profile is exceptionally diverse, with different soil types, microclimates, and countless native coffee varieties creating distinct differences and characteristics in the coffee produced by various towns. From 2010-2012, it consistently achieved high scores of 92-94 from the authoritative American coffee evaluation website CR, demonstrating the exceptional quality of green beans from this region. The area features towering mountains, highlands, plateaus, valleys, and plains, creating diverse topography. The local geology consists of fertile, well-drained volcanic soil with depths reaching nearly two meters, with surface soil appearing dark brown or brown. The region's greatest advantage lies in maintaining soil fertility through organic matter cycling, utilizing fallen leaves from surrounding trees and plant residues as natural fertilizers.

Flavor Profile and Characteristics

Unlike typical African coffees, Sidamo features clear fruit acidity and a smooth mouthfeel, complemented by delicate floral and herbal aromas. Washed Sidamo is elegant yet playful. The initial entry is gentle and pleasant, creating a strong flavor impact with the subsequent bright lemon acidity. The mouthfeel is uniquely rich, with a distinctive and pleasing aftertaste that gradually rises, containing an exceptional sweetness. The green coffee beans show a slight grayish tint, with some areas appearing coarse while others are fine. The acidity balances both soft and intense qualities, the body is appropriately full, and it presents a sweet, spicy character, making it one of the distinguished garden coffees from Ethiopia's southern highlands.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Coffee Workshop
Address: No. 10 Bao'an Front Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City
Manufacturer Contact: 020-38364473
Shelf Life: 90 days
Net Weight: 227g
Packaging: Bulk coffee beans
Roast Level: Roasted coffee beans
Sugar Content: Sugar-free
Origin: Ethiopia
Roast Degree: Light roast

Sidamo G2 Washed Specifications

Country: Ethiopia
Grade: G2
Region: Sidamo
Roast Level: Light roast
Processing Method: Washed
Variety: Local native varieties
Flavor Notes: Honey, citrus, lemon

Ethiopian Coffee Cultivation and Processing

Today, large numbers of wild Arabica coffee trees still grow in many parts of Ethiopia, typically cultivated at elevations between 4,200-6,800 feet, with a gradual trend toward small-scale cultivation. Banana trees are generally planted alongside coffee to provide shade. Due to limited agricultural technology, there is minimal use of herbicides and pesticides. Coffee is Ethiopia's primary economic agricultural crop and the country's largest agricultural export and important industry, accounting for 60% of Ethiopia's total export value and sustaining the livelihoods of many small farms. Other major crops include sugarcane, bananas, and cotton. It is also Ethiopia's largest and most important commodity export after oil, and Africa's largest Arabica coffee exporter, with a total value of approximately $300 million in 1997. In terms of production, 94% comes from small farms and 6% from government institutions. Because many farms are scattered and also grow other crops, accurate statistics have been difficult to compile, but official government statistics indicate that the total coffee cultivation area is at least 400,000 hectares. The Ethiopian government encourages local farmers to improve quality and productivity to help coffee farmers expand commercial scale and increase production and exports.

During harvest, farmers pick the vibrant red fruits daily, with each two-day harvest constituting one unit of coffee fruit sent or sold to washing stations for processing. Coffee fruit that hasn't gone through washing stations typically undergoes about 12 hours of natural fermentation, then is sun-dried for drying and hulling. Regardless of the method, farmers with slightly more means always try to send their coffee to washing stations to command better prices under the "washed processed" designation. At washing stations, coffee cherries undergo about 12 hours of soaking fermentation to soften the pulp, then pass through water channels with agitation to separate the pulp from the coffee beans. The pulp is discharged through sluice gates.

Today, Ethiopia's washing stations are increasing in number and development. Small farmers sell their harvested coffee fruit to processing plants, where it is hulled and then resold through auction systems. From there, it is transferred to the Red Sea port of Eritrea's Assab and Djibouti port near the Gulf of Aden. Despite coffee being the country's most important agricultural export, domestic consumption is surprisingly high, approximately 1,500,000 bags (60kg each), accounting for 50% of total production. Wild coffee grows in the tropical rainforests of the southwestern highlands and is mostly hand-picked. However, because of this, many local people maliciously destroy natural rainforest areas - through logging or burning - to access difficult-to-reach rugged mountain areas, seriously affecting ecological balance.

Whether washed or sun-dried green coffee beans, all coffee destined for export is sent to the capital Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa in Harar province for auction and export. The Dire Dawa auction center typically exports sun-dried Harar coffee from the region. At the auction houses, daily information from different farms is available to facilitate trader purchases. Several Ethiopian government officials also visit this center daily to inspect and grade the coffee. Each time, 3 kilograms are randomly sampled from the same shipment of green beans for inspection.

Important Notice :

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Tel:020 38364473