Appreciation and Roasting Philosophy of Yirgacheffe Coffee Beans_Are Yirgacheffe Coffee Beans Expensive_How to Roast Yirgacheffe Coffee Beans

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The Exceptional Character of Yirgacheffe Coffee

I've discussed Yirgacheffe coffee beans several times, but every time I find myself genuinely praising Yirgacheffe from before 2008. After 2009, the quality steadily declined. Ethiopia is the birthplace and genetic treasure trove of Arabica coffee, with an incredible diversity of wild varieties still existing today. It's said that at least 200 varieties remain undiscovered in the Ethiopian highlands. Even if just one of these varieties from the highlands were to emerge, it would be enough to shake the entire coffee industry!

Among Ethiopia's coffees, Yirgacheffe coffee beans are the most celebrated. Yirgacheffe was originally a small town with an elevation between 1,700-2,100 meters, located beside the Sidamo region. It was originally considered part of the greater Sidamo coffee-producing area, but due to its unique flavor profile, economic considerations, and the need for recognition, it became independent from the Sidamo region and established itself as a world-renowned independent producing region.

Grading System and Flavor Profile

Essentially, Ethiopia grades its coffee beans into 5 levels, from Grade 1 to Grade 5, with Grade 1 being the highest quality. For Grade 1, there are 0-3 defective beans per 300 grams of raw beans, while Grade 2 allows 4-12 defective beans. Grade 1 and Grade 2 are typically found among washed coffees, but curiously, Grade 1 natural Yirgacheffe is relatively scarce. However, both washed and natural process Yirgacheffe are incredibly charming! The washed variety is brighter, while the natural process is mellow and deep. Generally, Yirgacheffe exhibits very distinct fruit acidity with noticeable sweetness, making its acidity soft and gentle. The aroma lingers on the palate for a long time. The bitterness is low, and good roasting can present a mouthfeel similar to oolong tea, while its sweetness creates a viscous sensation on the lips, much like caramel. Yirgacheffe carries lemon and citrus notes, intermingled with oolong tea and sweet potato vine aromas. Fine Yirgacheffe will also have floral notes, especially jasmine fragrance, which is why some call it "woman's fragrance."

The Challenge of Perfect Roasting

However, in the past 7-8 years, Ethiopia's producing estates have become increasingly diverse, and processing plants have been working hard to improve Yirgacheffe processing methods. Yet, my taste and olfactory memories remain fixed on the wonderful Yirgacheffe of 2005, when every batch was delicious, and every roasting method could showcase Yirgacheffe's unique elegance. In recent years, I've been studying Yirgacheffe roasting methods and potential variations, finally discovering the real issue: while Yirgacheffe is delicious, achieving perfection isn't easy. Too light a roast results in acidity—though it preserves floral and fruit notes with bright flavors, it tends toward astringency, and mouthfeel balance becomes disrupted. Too dark a roast causes floral and fruit notes to disappear quickly, leaving awkward notes, nor can it be called elegant in terms of balance and smooth mouthfeel. Therefore, medium-light roasting is the most suitable roasting stage for Yirgacheffe.

Mastering the Roasting Process

But how should one roast to bring out Yirgacheffe's best flavors? It's all about controlling the heat damper and temperature! First, one must understand that Yirgacheffe beans are small and hard. At the beginning, one absolutely cannot use high heat. When the beans change color, attention must be paid to overall evenness and caffeine development. This is when one must rely on the nose to judge the roasting changes and techniques.

The Journey of Coffee Appreciation

Tasting coffee begins with understanding coffee. My encounter with pour-over coffee over 20 years ago led Shen Tingxian to dive deep into the coffee field. From tasting and pour-over to roasting beans, from outsider to someone inseparable from coffee today, he enjoys making friends through coffee and is skilled at sharing coffee with others. He says that coffee is a beverage that brings people joy, combining the relaxation brought by alcohol with the lingering aftertaste of tea. Through Shen Tingxian's coffee column, he invites you to immerse yourself in the world of coffee.

Yirgacheffe Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's washed Yirgacheffe coffee beans - Kochere - offer complete assurance in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value. A half-pound (227 grams) package costs only about 75 yuan. Calculating at 15 grams per single-origin coffee serving, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 5 yuan. Compared to café prices that often run tens of yuan per cup, this represents outstanding value.

About FrontStreet Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee: A Guangzhou-based roastery with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online shop services at https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473