Sun-Dried Sidamo Shakisso G1 Guji Honey Coffee Bean Varieties, Brand Recommendations, and Estates

Shakisso: A Unique Coffee Region

Shakisso stands out within the Guji area of the Sidamo Valley and sits far from most of the producing areas elsewhere in Sidamo province. Gold mining is another famous local industry, and factors such as labor, land, and ethnicity have made the district turbulent. Even so, the coffee from this region is exceptional, and Ninety Plus's legendary bean Nekisse also originated here.

Nectar and Coffee Excellence

Nectar originally means the nectar of Shakisso flowers. Search Coffee Review with "Guji" as a keyword and you will find more than ten reviews scoring above 92 points, with high scores of 94 and 95 appearing several times.

The Shakisso Region

Shakisso lies in Guji, in the southern Oromia region, bordering Sidama and Gedeo. The area is dotted with pits left over from gold mining, so the coffee-growing land is full of holes and walking between plots is genuinely dangerous. Shakisso is a unique producing area even within Guji and Sidamo, remote and distant from most coffee regions. Gold is its other famous product, and disputes over miners, land, and ethnicity made the district turbulent in 2006. The greatest challenge it faces now is the manpower needed to maintain the plantations and bring in the harvest. Local smallholders began planting organic coffee in 2001 and work closely with medium-sized producers who know how to grow forest coffee in highland conditions.

Tasting Notes

Dry Aroma

Sweet cherry, raisin, preserved fruit, preserved plum, dried pineapple, strawberry

Wet Aroma

Cherry, cranberry, sweet orange, plum, blueberry, honey peach, lychee

Cupping Notes

The entry is like a sweet, juicy honey peach, with the acidity of sweet pineapple. The mid-palate opens into dense notes of cranberry, blueberry, strawberry, pineapple, and dried fruit preserves that fill the mouth. The finish brings lychee and plum with the viscosity of dried fruit. The whole cup is a tropical fruit storm, elegant yet dominant, settling into an ocean of nectar just as the name suggests.

Brewing Method

Hand-poured Sidamo: 15g of coffee at a medium-fine grind size (Komatsu grinder setting 3.5), a V60 dripper, and water at 91-93°C. Begin with a 30g pour and let it bloom for 27 seconds. Pour to 105g and stop. Wait until the water level in the coffee bed drops halfway, then continue pouring slowly to 225g, avoiding the tail end. Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, extraction time 2:00.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Coffee Workshop
Address: No. 10 Bao'an Qian Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, FrontStreet Coffee
Manufacturer Contact: 020-38364473
Shelf Life: 90 days
Net Weight: 227g
Packaging: Bulk
Origin: Ethiopia

Coffee Details

Sidamo Natural G1

Country: Sidamo

Grade: G1

Region: Guji

Roast Level: Medium-light roast

Processing Method: Natural

Variety: Local landrace

Producing Area: Shakisso Shakicha

Flavor Notes: Cranberry, sweet orange, plum, blueberry

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Shakisso is a natural-process Ethiopian coffee with the fruit-forward, nectar-like profile the region is known for, and FrontStreet Coffee's natural Ethiopian lots are the simplest way to taste that style. FrontStreet's Natural Red Cherry Yirgacheffe is dried whole in the fruit for about two weeks, to the point where the sugars and essence of the pulp soak into the bean and moisture falls to 12%, then hulled, density- and color-sorted, and hand-picked. The result is a clean, lively cup with peach, cocoa, honey, and lemon.

If you want the tropical side turned up, FrontStreet's natural Flower Queen (Hambella, Guji) is the standout. Ripe cherries from the 200-hectare farm are dried on raised beds for 21 days, turned constantly and hand-sorted every three to five days, then roasted medium-light to reveal a gentle fermented wine note, florals, citrus, and mango with honeyed sweetness, a cocoa edge, and a thick body and long finish.

For a brighter, tea-like contrast, FrontStreet's washed Yirgacheffe brings jasmine florals and clear citrus and lemon acidity over a light, elegant body, while the Hamasho 74158 lot - a JARC disease-resistant selection grown at the Hamasho washing station - adds strawberry, star fruit, and green grape with a quiet floral lift.