Introduction to Ethiopia Red Cherry Program Korate Natural Sun-Dried Red Cherry Coffee Beans

Professional Barista Exchange

Follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat Official Account: cafe_style).

FrontStreet Coffee - Ethiopia Operation Cherrie Red Korate Natural Process Coffee Beans

Operation Cherrie Red (ORC) is a project dedicated to improving the quality of small-scale farms, mainly aimed at encouraging coffee farmers and bringing surprises to roasters. Before the harvest season, Trabocca, the largest coffee bean merchant in the Netherlands, invites all Ethiopian farms to produce small batches of approximately 1,500-3,000 kilograms (25-50 bags) of coffee. Only women are allowed to select fully 100% ripe red cherries, which makes a significant difference to the flavor of the brewed coffee. Diligent, keen-eyed, and hardworking Ethiopian women are therefore crucial drivers of the Operation Cherrie Red program.

Operation Cherrie Red is also a supplementary approach that encourages farms to invest more attention in screening and bean selection. These coffees command relatively higher prices. The program includes washed, natural, semi-washed, semi-natural, and experimental coffees, with major growing regions including Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, Bench Maji (Bonga Forest), Lekempti, Kembata, Illubabor, Harrar, and Limu, and in 2011 the Golocha region (near Harrar) was added. All of these areas produce unique flavors that fully showcase the character of Ethiopian coffee beans. After receiving the coffee, Trabocca conducts further selection. Farms that pass cupping quality tests run by both the Ethiopian and Dutch offices and meet the required standards receive substantial bonuses. A cupping score of 88 points or above is required to qualify as quality coffee in the Operation Cherrie Red program. Trabocca, the driving force behind Operation Cherrie Red, reinvests all profits from recent years back into the partner farms. Trabocca emphasizes that this is a non-profit program, so the company operates with only four people, including the owner and a secretary, to execute it. Other administrative matters are supported by the parent company to reduce administrative expenses, with all profits returned to the partner farms.

In October 2012, Direct Coffee once again imported the Operation Cherrie Red Sidamo Korate natural process beans. These are Trabocca's exclusive selection of the freshest beans. The Sidamo Korate natural process beans were among the first varieties that FrontStreet Coffee encountered through the Operation Cherrie Red program. The first tasting, with its strawberry biscuit notes, was truly exciting, leaving a perfect impression deeply imprinted. After 2009, Korate almost disappeared from the market until it reappeared this June. The dreamy aroma is captivating, making it a personal favorite from the Operation Cherrie Red selection.

FrontStreet Coffee - Ethiopia Sidamo Korate Natural Process Coffee Beans

Property Characteristics

Farm Name: Operation Cherrie Red

Farmer: Various small producers

City: Dara, Korate

Region: Sidamo growing region

Country: Ethiopia

Altitude: 1,850-2,100 meters

Coffee Growing Area: 0.75-1 hectare

Annual Precipitation: 1,100-1,200 mm

Soil: Volcanic clay

Coffee Characteristics

Variety: Heirloom local traditional varieties

Processing System: Unwashed natural process, dried on African beds

International Jury Score: 88 points or above

Total Pounds: 1,500-3,000 kg

Appearance: Screen 16

Aroma/Flavor: Strawberry, biscuit, fermented notes, mango, banana, vanilla, black tea, ripe tea, chocolate, honey

Acidity: Plum, grape, sweet orange, red apple acidity, single malt wine acidity

Complexity and Others: Complex and multi-layered, very fresh, lively, and elastic with a good mouthfeel; calm and steady texture when cooled; prominent fermented brandy notes

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Natural Ethiopian lots like Korate are prized for their ripe fruit and fermented depth, and FrontStreet's Yirgacheffe range follows the same vein. For a natural coffee built on all-red fruit, FrontStreet's Natural Red Cherry uses only fully ripe, sound cherries that are screened and then dried on raised beds for three to five weeks, turned every two to three hours early on to avoid uneven fermentation. Because the fruit dries with the bean, the cup keeps the classic Yirgacheffe character while gaining the tropical fruit of the natural process - citrus-like acidity, berry-juice body, honey sweetness, and creamy smoothness.

The washed side of Yirgacheffe is the cleanest way to see what the region tastes like. FrontStreet's washed Yirgacheffe is the classic entry, known for white jasmine, bright citrus and lemon acidity, and a tea-like body, and it has become a first specialty bean for many new drinkers. For a single-village washed lot, FrontStreet's Gedingding Cooperative coffee comes from the Worka area at the southeastern edge of Yirgacheffe; pulped before drying, it shows citrus and lemon with elegant white florals, bright and finely structured.